title: The influence of changes in lifestyle and mercury exposure in riverine populations of the Madeira River (Amazon Basin) near a hydroelectric project.
abstract: In the Amazon Basin, naturally occurring methylmercury bioaccumulates in fish, which is a key source of protein consumed by riverine populations. The hydroelectric power-plant project at Santo Antônio Falls allows us to compare the Hg exposure of riverine populations sparsely distributed on both sides of the Madeira river before the area is to be flooded. From 2009 to 2011, we concluded a population survey of the area (N = 2,008; representing circa 80% of community residents) that estimated fish consumption and mercury exposure of riverine populations with different degrees of lifestyle related to fish consumption. Fish samples from the Madeira river (N = 1,615) and 110 species were analyzed for Hg. Hair-Hg was significantly lower (p < 0.001) in less isolated communities near to the capital of Porto Velho (median 2.32 ppm) than in subsistence communities in the Cuniã Lake, 180 km from Porto Velho city (median 6.3 ppm). Fish Hg concentrations ranged from 0.01 to 6.06 µg/g, depending on fish size and feeding behavior. Currently available fish in the Madeira river show a wide variability in Hg concentrations. Despite cultural similarities, riparians showed hair-Hg distribution patterns that reflect changes in fish-eating habits driven by subsistence characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Público Sergio Arouca-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21041-210, Brazil. sandrahacon@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sandra S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hacon
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde-Universidade de Brasília, C.P. 04322, Campus-Asa Norte, Brasília, Distrito Federal, 70919-970, Brazil. jg.dorea@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dórea
authors.affiliation: Instituto Fernandes Figueira-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Av. Rui Barbosa, 716 Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro, 22250-020, Brazil. marlon@iff.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Márlon de F
authors.initials: Mde F
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Público Sergio Arouca-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21041-210, Brazil. beatrizenf@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Beatriz A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Escola Nacional de Saúde Público Sergio Arouca-Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões, 1480 Manguinhos, Rio de Janeiro, 21041-210, Brazil. dennys@ensp.fiocruz.br.
authors.forename: Dennys S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Mourão
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química da Pontifícia, Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, R. Marquês de São Vicente, 225. Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900, Brazil. claudveg@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Claudia M V
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Química da Pontifícia, Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, R. Marquês de São Vicente, 225. Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, 22451-900, Brazil. rodrigoagoncalves@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Santo Antônio Energia, Rua Tabajara, 824-Olaria, Porto Velho, Rondônia, 76801-316, Brazil. carolinamariani@santoantonioenergia.com.br.
authors.forename: Carolina F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang C. Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Porto Velho, RO, 76801-974, Brazil. wanderbastos@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Wanderley R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D045483:Rivers; D017747:Seafood / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury