title: An overview of mercury contamination research in the Amazon basin with an emphasis on Brazil.
abstract: This article provides an overview of research on mercury contamination in the Amazon Basin and its evolution from 1990 to 2005. The assessment was based on an extensive and systematic review using bibliographic databases available online and a review of projects by research groups. Brazilian research groups were identified using the database of the Brazilian National Research Council (CNPq). A geographic information system was used to determine the location of the studies. Different aspects of mercury contamination were evaluated (environmental studies, impacts on human health, technological improvements). For 1990-2005, a total of 455 publications were identified. The main advances and remaining gaps in relation to environmental issues and human health were identified and discussed. Although the scientific output varied considerably over the period, there was a general increase in the total number of publications per year from the early 1990s (fewer than 20) until 2005 (more than 30), considering the articles published in indexed journals.
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Público Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. shacon@easyline.com.br
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hacon
authors.forename: Paulo R G
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Barrocas
authors.forename: Ana Claudia S de
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Vasconcellos
authors.forename: Christovam
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barcellos
authors.forename: Julio César
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wasserman
authors.forename: Reinaldo C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Cíntia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Flávia B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Azevedo-Carloni
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D008628:Mercury / Q000633:toxicity*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D045483:Rivers; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008628:Mercury