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7577013 
Journal Article 
Mercury contamination of fish and exposures of an indigenous community in Para State, Brazil 
Brabo, ED; Santos, ED; De Jesus, IM; Mascarenhas, AFS; Faial, KD 
2000 
Yes 
Environmental Research
ISSN: 0013-9351
EISSN: 1096-0953 
84 
3 
197-203 
English 
CCC:000165815800001 
Fish consumption is an important source of protein among indigenous communities in Amazonian Brazil. Exposures to mercury via fish were studied in an indigenous community of the Munduruku reserve, located in the Tapakos River basin id the state of Para, one of the oldest and most productive gold mining areas in the Amazon region. This study summarizes the results of mercury (Hg) analyses of fish consumed by inhabitants of the Munduruku settlement of Sai Cinza. The most frequently consumed fish, reported by 330 persons interviewed for this study, were tucunare, pacu, jaraqui, traira, aracu, matrincha, and caratinga. The mean mercury concentration in carnivorous fish was 0.297 mug . g(-1) while in noncarnivorous fish mean mercury concentration was 0.095 mug . g(-1). Only in caratinga was there a significant relationship between fish size, weight, and mercury levels. Levels of methylmercury in the tucunare! averaged 0.170 mug g-l, while in traira the mean level of methylmercury was 0.212 mug . g(-1) Although the levels of Hg in fish consumed by the Sai Cinza community are below the Erazilian limit value for consumption, the high rates and amounts of fish consumed by this population are relevant to evaluating risks of mercury contamination for communities with limited food resources. (C) 2000 Academic Press. 
Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Toxicology; Pharmacology & Pharmacy; mercury, methylmercury, Amazon region, indigenous peoples, fish; tapajos river-basin, madeira river, human hair, amazon, methylmercury,; accumulation, reservoir, inputs, urine, model