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.
Bastos
Wanderley Rodrigues
WR
Environmental Biogeochemistry Laboratory, Science and Technology Nucleus, Federal University of Rondônia, 78900-500, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil. bastoswr@unir.br
Fonseca
Márlon de Freitas
Mde F
Pinto
Fernando Neves
FN
Rebelo
Mauro de Freitas
Mde F
dos Santos
Sérgio Silva
SS
da Silveira
Ene Glória
EG
Torres
João Paulo Machado
JP
Malm
Olaf
O
Pfeiffer
Wolfgang Christian
WC
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