Mercury persistence in indoor environments in the Amazon region, Brazil.
We evaluated the indoor atmospheric Hg contamination in gold trade shops in two Brazilian cities of the Legal Amazon area using the Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides, Bromeliaceae) as a sentinel species. Plants inside plastic cages were exposed to a controlled atmosphere to evaluate the rate of Hg retention over time and then distributed in several stores with different characteristics to enable a relative comparison. Hg concentrations were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plants exposed in active stores with good air circulation exhibited lower levels. Ex-gold trade shops that were kept closed for long periods exhibited higher values. Stores that have been restored before being transformed into new businesses exhibited lower values than nonrestored ones. Direct measurements suggest that indoor Hg air concentrations were below the threshold limit recommended by the World Health Organization to occupational exposure; nevertheless, restoring ex-gold trade shops could ensure a healthier working environment.
Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Science and Technology Nucleus, Federal University of Rondônia, 78900-500, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil. bastoswr@unir.br
Wanderley Rodrigues
WR
Bastos
Márlon de Freitas
Mde F
Fonseca
Fernando Neves
FN
Pinto
Mauro de Freitas
Mde F
Rebelo
Sérgio Silva
SS
dos Santos
Ene Glória
EG
da Silveira
João Paulo Machado
JP
Torres
Olaf
O
Malm
Wolfgang Christian
WC
Pfeiffer
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006047:Gold Alloys; D008628:Mercury / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D031232:Tillandsia / Q000187:drug effects
D006047:Gold Alloys; D008628:Mercury