Indices of mercury contamination during breast feeding in the Amazon Basin
Copyright
open access
Type
Article
Date
1998
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Alternative Title
Authors
Affilliation
Advisor
Co-Advisor
Committee Member
Organizer
Coordinator(s)
Institutional author
Director
item.page.production
Screenplay
Producer
Recorder
Abstract
Mercury pollution, due to gold mining has spread through the Amazon ecosystem reaching the food chain and affecting the indigenous people of the region. We studied the mercury contamination of 47 mothers and infants and the role of breast feeding in indices of mercury body burden in both groups, by measuring hair and milk Hg levels. Total mercury concentration of breast milk ranged from 0.0 to 24.8 (5.85, 5.2 S.D.) ng/g. Calculated levels of mercury exposure of breast fed babies indicated that 53% were above tolerable daily intakes (0.5 μg/kg body weight) recommended for adults by WHO. Mercury concentration in maternal hair was higher than in hair from breast-fed babies. Correlation analysis showed that mercury hair concentration in infants was significantly affected by maternal mercury contamination during pregnancy, but not during the post-natal breast-feeding period. The mercury concentration in milk was not significantly correlated with maternal or infant’s hair Hg. A statistically significant correlation was found only between maternal and infant’s hair mercury concentration (r=0.675; P=0.0001).
Abstract
Abstract in Spanish
Abstract in French
Description
Keywords in Portuguese
Região Amazônica, Doenças e Agravos Não Transmissíveis
Keywords
Brazil, Health of Indigenous Peoples, Indians, South American, Women's Health, Child Health, Breast Feeding, Mercury Poisoning, Environmental Pollution, Milk, Human
Keywords in Spanish
Keywords in French
DeCS
Brasil, Saúde de Populações Indígenas, Índios Sul-Americanos, Saúde da Mulher, Saúde da Criança, Aleitamento Materno, Intoxicação por Mercúrio, Poluição Ambiental, Leite Humano, Ecossistema Amazônico
Event Date
Previous version
Related Document
Means of dissemination
Duration
Duration
Original color system
Target audience context
Audience occupation
Educational Description
Evaluation
Peer Reviewed
Publication Status
Sponsorship
Latest version
Version
Event Location
Event title
Event Type
Citation
BARBOSA, Antonio C; DÓREA, José G. Indices of mercury contamination during breast feeding in the Amazon Basin. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, v. 6, n. 2, p. 71-79, 1998
ISBN
ISSN
1382-6689
DOI
10.1016/S1382-6689(98)00031-3