Neurotoxic Sequelae of Mercury Exposure: An Intervention and Follow-up Study in the Brazilian Amazon

EcoHealth - 2011
Myriam Fillion1, Aline Philibert1, Frédéric Mertens2, Mélanie Lemire1, Carlos José Sousa Passos3, Benoit Frenette4, Jean Rémy Davée Guimarães5, Donna Mergler1
1Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur la biologie, la santé, la société et l’environnement (CINBIOSE), Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, Canada
2Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (CDS), Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
3Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, Brazil
4École d’optométrie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
5Laboratório de Traçadores, Instituto de Biofísica, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Tóm tắt

Since 1995, the Caruso Project used an Ecosystem Approach to Human Health to examine mercury (Hg) exposure in fish-eating communities in the Brazilian Amazon and develop interventions to maximise nutrition from traditional diet and minimise toxic risk. In 1995, 2000 and 2006, this study followed fish consumption, Hg levels, and visual and motor functions in 31 villagers. Questionnaires gathered information on socio-demographics and diet. Hair Hg (H-Hg) levels were measured. Visual acuity, colour vision, manual dexterity and grip strength were assessed. Data was analysed using general linear models of repeated measures. Total fish consumption, similar in 1995 and 2000, decreased in 2006. Carnivorous fish consumption initially decreased and then remained stable, whereas non-carnivorous fish consumption first increased and then decreased. H-Hg declined from 17.6 to 7.8 μg/g. Visual functions showed a significant decrease over time, with those with H-Hg ≥ 20 μg/g in 1995 showing greater loss. Motor functions showed initial improvement and then returned to the 1995 performance level. Decrease in Hg exposure is attributed to the intervention and socio-economic changes in the village. While there may be a certain reversibility of motor deficits, visual capacities may decrease progressively with respect to exposure prior to the intervention.

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