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BIBTEX RIS

Manifestações emocionais e motoras de ribeirinhos expostos ao mercúrio na Amazônia

2017; ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILEIRA DE SAÚDE COLETIVA; Volume: 20; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1590/1980-5497201700020003

ISSN

1980-5497

Autores

José Maria Farah Costa, Abner Ariel da Silva Lima, D. A. Rodrigues, Eliana Dirce Torres Khoury, Givago da Silva Souza, Luiz Carlos L. Silveira, Maria da Conceição Nascimento Pinheiro,

Tópico(s)

Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity

Resumo

The investigation of clinical and neurological impactations associated with exposure to mercury levels in exposed populations is necessary in the Amazon.To analyze emotional and motor symptoms of riverside dwellers exposed by diet in the municipalities of Itaituba and Acará, in Pará, Brazil.Hair samples were collected to assess the total mercury (HgT). Demographic data as well as emotional (depression, anxiety and insomnia) and motor (paresthesia, muscle weakness, loss of balance when walking, tremors, limb pain and dysarthria) symptomatology data were obtained.Mean levels of HgT in Itaituba were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in Acará. Emotional symptoms were identified in 26 (26.5%) participants from Itaituba and in 24 (52.2%) from Acará. Specific motor complaints in Itaituba occurred in 63 (64.3%) volunteers; the most frequently mentioned afflictions were limb pain (36.7%), paresthesia (32.6%) and muscle weakness (27.5%). In Acará, 33 (71.7%) participants had motor symptoms, the majority of which complained of paresthesia (54.3%), limb pain (52.2%) and tremors (34.8%). Average HgT levels in Itaituba in those with emotional and motor symptoms were above the tolerable levels (6 µg/g) determined by the World Health Organization.Results showed that mercury levels in emotional and motor symptoms in Itaituba are higher than in riverside dwellers in Acará. Further studies, including the application of specific qualitative and/or quantitative standard tests, as well as the investigation of other clinical signs are necessary.

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