[Mercury levels in fish consumed by the Sai Cinza indigenous community, Munduruku Reservation, Jacareacanga County, State of Pará, Brazil].
This study evaluated fish consumption and mercury levels in fish consumed by an indigenous community in the State of Pará. Eighty fish samples were collected (barbado, surubim, traíra, tucunaré, piranha, aruanã, caratinga, aracu, mandiá, jandiá, and pacu). Mercury analysis was performed using a Mercury Analyzer HG-3500. Average mercury concentration in carnivorous species was 0.293 (g/g (SD=0.104), while in non-carnivorous species it was 0.112 (g/g (SD=0. 036). Brazilian legislation establishes a maximum permissible limit of 0.5 (g/g for fish consumption. No significant correlation was found between fish length or weight and mercury concentration. Types of fish most frequently consumed by the community were tucunaré, pacu, jaraqui, traíra, aracu, matrinchã, and caratinga. Carnivorous species, especially tucunaré and traíra, amongst the most frequently eaten, had higher mercury levels than non-carnivorous species. Frequency of consumption is crucial to assess the risk of mercury contamination in communities who lack alternative food sources.
Instituto Evandro Chagas, Coordenação de Ecologia Humana e Meio Ambiente, Fundação Nacional de Saúde, Av. Almirante Barroso 492, Marco, Belé m, PA 66090-000, Brasil.
E D
ED
Brabo
E D
ED
Santos
I M
IM
Jesus
A F
AF
Mascarenhas
K F
KF
Faial
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury
Níveis de mercúrio em peixes consumidos pela comunidade indígena de Sai Cinza na Reserva Munduruku, Município de Jacareacanga, Estado do Pará, Brasil.