title: Selenium status and hair mercury levels in riverine children from Rondônia, Amazonia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Riverine communities in Rondônia State are exposed to high selenium (Se) content in their diet because of the high-selenium soils identified in the Amazon. However, the Amazonian population has a high mercury (Hg) exposure because this metal accumulates in the soil. Because children are more vulnerable to Hg toxicity, the aim of this study was to evaluate and correlate Se status and hair Hg levels in riverine children (aged 3-9 y) living in two different locations in Rondônia State: Demarcação area (DA) and Gleba do Rio Preto (GRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Se levels were assessed using hydride generation quartz tube atomic absorption spectroscopy; total hair Hg levels were assessed using cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry. Dietary intake was evaluated through a 24-h food record and a food frequency questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-two children participated in this study. Eighty-four percent of the children from DA showed low plasma Se. Conversely, all children from GRP presented plasma Se levels above the reference values. Forty-five percent of the children from DA presented low erythrocyte levels, and 55% of the children from GRP showed concentration in erythrocyte above the reference values. The mean Se intake was 41.8 μg/d in DA and 179.0 μg/d in GRP. High hair Hg levels were observed in children from both the DA and GRP (3.57 ± 1.86 and 6.24 ± 5.89, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children from both riverine communities are likely to present altered Se status according to their dietary intake. Additionally, these children are highly exposed to Hg, mainly through fish consumption, and the toxicity of this metal may cause metabolic damage.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmcêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vieira Rocha
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmcêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: Barbaracardoso@usp.br.
authors.forename: Bárbara Rita
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cominetti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmcêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael Barofaldi
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bueno
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmcêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maritsa Carla
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Bortoli
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Energia e Pesquisas Nucleares/Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (IPEN/CNEN-SP), Laboratório de Análise de Ativação Neutrônica, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luciana Aparecida
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Farias
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Energia e Pesquisas Nucleares/Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear (IPEN/CNEN-SP), Laboratório de Análise de Ativação Neutrônica, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Déborah Inês Teixeira
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Favaro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Departamento de Parasitologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luís Marcelo Aranha
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Alimentos e Nutrição Experimental, Faculdade de Ciências Farmcêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Maria Franciscato
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Cozzolino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D031383:Bertholletia / Q000737:chemistry; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008628:Mercury / Q000378:metabolism*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D009752:Nutritional Status; D045483:Rivers; D017747:Seafood; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D008628:Mercury; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Brazil; Children; Mercury; Nutritional status; Selenium