title: Mercury levels and human health in the Amazon Basin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Environmental mercury in the Amazon mostly originates from geochemical sources with some from artisanal gold mining (AGM). Geochemical-originated methylmercury (MeHg) reaches the aquatic food chain, ending up in fish. Inorganic Hg used in AGM is responsible for localised environmental contamination and occupational exposure of adults. In addition to this, iatrogenic ethylmercury (EtHg) derived from Thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) exposes immunised infants.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand Hg exposure in the Amazon in relation to environmental fish-MeHg exposure, occupational AGM activities and low-doses of TCV-EtHg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medline and Thomson-Reuter Web of Science were searched to retrieve and select papers addressing Hg exposure and human health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental-Hg studies addressed health effects associated with birth weight, infant linear growth and neurodevelopment, while, in adults, environmental and occupational studies addressed immune and neurological issues. No widespread clinical toxicity was reported due to fish-MeHg. However, mixed results associated with Hg exposure can be found. Reducing children's exposure to EtHg is possible using Thimerosal-free vaccines, but it is difficult to interfere with fish consumption without consequences to riverine subsistence populations. Policies to diminish Hg exposure should focus on controlling and/or curbing widespread use of Hg (in gold amalgamation) and promotion of Thimerosal-free vaccines for pregnant women and young children.
authors.affiliation: a Universidade de Brasília , Brasília , DF , Brasil ;
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Dórea
authors.affiliation: b Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro , RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rejane C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D011634:Public Health
chemical_list: D008628:Mercury
keywords: Methylmercury; ethylmercury; fish; gold mining; neurodevelopment