Avaliação da Contaminação Ambiental por Arsênio e Estudo Epidemiológico da Exposição Humana em Paracatu-MG - Brasil

We present an interdisciplinary study where environmental, social and health conditions are integrated to evaluate the risk of exposure to arsenic in the population of Paracatu, due to the exploitation of the largest open pit gold mine in Brazil. The study had three phases: evaluation of environmental contamination; assessment of human environmental exposure; investigation of factors associated with behavior to reduce the risk of exposure. Water for human consumption in the urban area is not contaminated with arsenic. The levels of arsenic in urine indicate higher exposure in neighborhoods near the mine, in agreement with data on atmospheric particulate matter. The cancer mortality rate was not higher than the controls. Social networks and gender relations are key in the adoption of preventive behaviors. It is recommended the establishment of an Arsenic Exposure Surveillance Program, with the involvement of the Brazilian Universal Health Care System, “SUS”, at the municipal, state and federal levels.Apresentamos um estudo interdisciplinar onde condições ambientais, sociais e de saúde são integradas para avaliar o risco de exposição ao arsênio na população de Paracatu, devido à exploração da maior mina de ouro a céu aberto do Brasil. O estudo possui três fases: avaliação da contaminação ambiental; estudo epidemiológico de exposição ambiental humana; exame dos fatores associados aos comportamentos para reduzir o risco de exposição. As águas de consumo humano na área urbana não estão contaminadas com arsênio. Os teores de arsênio em urina indicam exposição mais alta em bairros próximos à mina, em concordância com os dados sobre material particulado atmosférico. A taxa de mortalidade por câncer não se mostrou superior aos controles. As redes sociais e relações de gênero são chave na adoção de comportamentos preventivos. Recomenda-se o estabelecimento de um Programa de Vigilância da exposição ao arsênio, com envolvimento do SUS, ao nível municipal, estadual e federal

Quality index of the surface water of Amazonian rivers in industrial areas in Pará, Brazil

IEC/FIDESA/MPE-PA Project (Process 001/2007), Evandro Chagas Institute, Federal University of Pará and Federal University of Rio de Janeiro for financial and laboratory support.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil / Universidade Federal do Pará. Faculdade de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Faculdade de Engenharia Sanitária e Ambiental. Belém, PA, Brazil.In this study was to evaluate the waters quality of the Murucupi River, located in urban agglomerate area and intense industrial activity in Barcarena City, Pará State. The Arapiranga River in Abaetetuba City was used as control area (Background), next to Barcarena. Was used the Water Quality Index (WQI) based on nine variables analized. Waters quality of the Arapiranga and Murucupi rivers were regular to good and bad to good, respectively. Anthropogenic influence on the Murucupi River was higher, mainly by the disposal of domestic effluents from the urban agglomerate and of the industrial waste tailing basins upstream of this river. Due to its less inhabited environment and further away from the area urban and industrial, the Arapiranga River was more preserved. Waters pollution of around these area is increasingly intense, and restricted its uses for various purposes

Assessment of DDT and mercury levels in fish and sediments in the Iriri River, Brazil: distribution and ecological risk

MS/SVS/Evandro Chagas Institute.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Química. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Pará. Instituto de Química. Belém, PA, Brazil.In order to assess the risk of exposure of human populations to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and mercury, muscles of five fish species were analysed, along with the surface sediment of 14 Iriri River sampling sites. The fish specimens were sacrificed by the spinal section, prior to sex identification, body weight determination and total length. Considering the fish specimens studied, 11% of them showed concentrations of mercury higher than the maximum established by the World Health Organization for safe human consumption. A positive correlation between fish body weight and mercury concentration was observed, besides a positive correlation between the fish size and Hg concentration. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between mean concentrations of DDT and metabolites among species of fish studied. In the Plagioscion squamossissimus species, the highest concentration of total DDT (151.4 ng/g) was found, while in Eugerres Brasilianus species, the lowest. However, the DDT levels in fish muscle of studied species are below the maximum set by FAO-Alimentarius CODEX. In the sediments, total DDT ranged from 11.58 ng/g to 48.4 ng/g, which is associated with the historical DDT use in the Amazon. According to sediment quality guidelines, these levels have a moderate toxic effect in almost all of the studied region

Streamflow forecasts due precipitation water in a tropical large watershed at Brazil for flood early warning, based on SWAT model

The research reported here was supported by National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development - CNPQ, Brazil - UNIVERSAL CALL – MCTI/CNPq Nº 14/2014 and Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory - LaPMAC of Federal University of the Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Technical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTTechnical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTTechnical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Galileo Institute of Technology and Education of the Amazon. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.The Tocantins-Araguaia Watershed, which is distributed equivalent to 11% of Brazilian territory, conveys waters to the northern portion of Brazil with average discharge of 11000 m3 s -1 , with contribution from the Tocantins River (40%), the Araguaia River (45%), and the Itacaiúnas River (5%), making possible an intangible flood in the Marabá city and Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant (Downstream) during periods of high rainfall within the tropical watershed without provide timely warnings. For flash flood forecasting in a tropical large watershed, streamflow forecasts due precipitation water is required for flood early warning and in this sense, numerical prediction models are fundamental to extend streamflow forecast of a watershed due to precipitation. The paper focuses on the use Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), January 2007 to December 2010 period, to comparison of streamflows obtained from the post-processed precipitation forecasts, in providing skilful flood forecasts. In this sense, the basin was divided into 109 sub-basins and 1969 HRUs, and the model was calibrated and validated based on flow rate data in three monitoring points located next of Marabá city and Tucuruí hydroelectric. Posteriorly, simulated discharges scenario due to climatic variability extreme were generated under three strategies: 10%, 50% and 100% increase in ambient temperature (24℃) due natural and/or anthropogenic events within the watershed. The model results show that stream flows obtained adds value to the flood early warning system when compared to precipitation forecasts. Considering that climate is a direct function of temperature it is obvious that all relevant phenomena undergo changes. The scenarios results show that 50% increase in ambient temperature this leads to greater and faster evaporation. Thus, the gradual increase of precipitation in tropical watershed large alters flow rates over time and increase flood potentials in areas downstream of the basins. However, the need for more detailed evaluation of the model results in the study area is highlighted, due adequately represent the convective precipitation within the large tropical watershed

Quantitative study of metal present in the hemolymph of Biomphalaria glabrata(gastropoda), infected and uninfected with Schistosoma mansoni

Trabalho apresentado no Congresso da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, 41., 2005, Florianópolis e publicado na Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical, v. 38, supl. I, p. 225-226, 2005.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Belém, PA, Brasil.Inicialmente, desenvolveu-se um estudo para quantificar e comparar as concentrações de alguns metais presentes em duas amostras de hemolinfa do caramujo Biomphalaria glabrata (infectados e não-infectados com Schistosoma mansoni). A espectrometria de emissão óptica com fonte de plasma induzido (ICP-OES), foi utilizada para analisar os metais nas duas amostras. Os metais estudados foram: alumínio, cálcio, cádmio, cobalto, cromo, cobre, ferro, potássio, magnésio, manganês, chumbo e zinco. Os resultados mostram que, a princípio, os metais não são fatores determinantes no processo de defesa desses organismos contra este parasita, quando presente nos seus tecidos.We conducted a preliminary study to quantify and compare two concentrations of the same metals present in the hemolymph of snail Biomphalaria glabrata. In this context, we used Induction Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy technique (ICP-OES), to analyze the metals in the two samples (snails infected and not infected with Schistosoma mansoni). The metals studied were: aluminum, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, lead and zinc. Preliminary results showed that such metals are not involved in the defense of these organisms against the parasite, when present in their tissues

Streamflow forecasts due precipitation water in a tropical large watershed at Brazil for flood early warning, based on SWAT model

The research reported here was supported by National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development - CNPQ, Brazil - UNIVERSAL CALL – MCTI/CNPq Nº 14/2014 and Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory - LaPMAC of Federal University of the Pará, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Technical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTTechnical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTTechnical University of Lisbon. Environment Technology Center/MARETEC. Portugal, PTMinistério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Galileo Institute of Technology and Education of the Amazon. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.The Tocantins-Araguaia Watershed, which is distributed equivalent to 11% of Brazilian territory, conveys waters to the northern portion of Brazil with average discharge of 11000 m3 s -1 , with contribution from the Tocantins River (40%), the Araguaia River (45%), and the Itacaiúnas River (5%), making possible an intangible flood in the Marabá city and Tucuruí Hydroelectric Plant (Downstream) during periods of high rainfall within the tropical watershed without provide timely warnings. For flash flood forecasting in a tropical large watershed, streamflow forecasts due precipitation water is required for flood early warning and in this sense, numerical prediction models are fundamental to extend streamflow forecast of a watershed due to precipitation. The paper focuses on the use Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), January 2007 to December 2010 period, to comparison of streamflows obtained from the post-processed precipitation forecasts, in providing skilful flood forecasts. In this sense, the basin was divided into 109 sub-basins and 1969 HRUs, and the model was calibrated and validated based on flow rate data in three monitoring points located next of Marabá city and Tucuruí hydroelectric. Posteriorly, simulated discharges scenario due to climatic variability extreme were generated under three strategies: 10%, 50% and 100% increase in ambient temperature (24℃) due natural and/or anthropogenic events within the watershed. The model results show that stream flows obtained adds value to the flood early warning system when compared to precipitation forecasts. Considering that climate is a direct function of temperature it is obvious that all relevant phenomena undergo changes. The scenarios results show that 50% increase in ambient temperature this leads to greater and faster evaporation. Thus, the gradual increase of precipitation in tropical watershed large alters flow rates over time and increase flood potentials in areas downstream of the basins. However, the need for more detailed evaluation of the model results in the study area is highlighted, due adequately represent the convective precipitation within the large tropical watershed

Níveis de mercúrio em peixes consumidos pela comunidade indígena de Sai Cinza na Reserva Munduruku, Município de Jacareacanga, Estado do Pará, Brasil

O estudo consiste em avaliar os níveis de mercúrio no pescado consumido pela comunidade indígena de Sai Cinza (Reserva Munduruku) no Estado do Pará, e associá-los com os hábitos de consumo da população. Um total de oitenta espécimes de peixes foram capturados. As determinações de Hg foram realizadas por absorção atômica. A concentração média de Hg nas espécies carnívoras foi de 0,293 µg/g (DP = 0,104) enquanto nas não carnívoras foi de 0,112 µg/g (DP = 0,036). As espécies referidas como de maior consumo ente os 330 indivíduos entrevistados foram: tucunaré, pacu, jaraqui, traíra, aracu, matrinchã e caratinga. As espécies com concentrações mais elevadas de Hg foram tucunaré e traíra, que estão entre os peixes mais consumidos. A freqüência de consumo constitui-se num fator importante na avaliação de risco de contaminação por mercúrio em comunidades que não têm outras alternativas de alimentação

Deposition flow of Mercury and Selenium in Hair of riverine inhabitants of the Amazon, Brazil

Institute Evandro Chaga – Health Ministry in Brazil and Federal University of the Pará.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Environment and Conservation Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil / Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Galileo Institute of Technology and Education of the Amazon. Manaus, AM, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Laboratório de Toxicologia. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.This paper provides an estimation of Hg, CH3Hg+ and Se levels in hair samples of riverine inhabitants belonging to Itaituba municipality - Barreiras community (area impacted by gold mining underground) and Juruti municipality - Tabatinga community (area without mining impact) (masculine and feminine genus), Pará state (Amazon, Brazil), as well as Hg, CH3Hg+ and Se levels in 12 fish species (carnivores and non-carnivorous), which stand out as the main species consumed by riverside inhabitants, to evaluate a relationship between fish consumption frequency; and Hg, CH3Hg+ and Se concentration, and also to evaluate possible protection mechanisms (or nonprotection) to Hg exposure by Se. Results showed that the levels of Hg, CH3Hg+ and Se found in the present study, which were an average of 15.21 µg g−1 of Hg, 10.48 µg g−1 of CH3Hg+ and 3.64 µg g−1 of Se for male inhabitants and an average of 13.89 µg g−1 of Hg, 10.68µg g−1 of CH3Hg+ and 3.60 µg g−1 of Se for female inhabitants belonging to the Barreira community, were higher than the Hg, CH3Hg+ and Se levels found in hair samples from inhabitants of Tabatinga community and other gold-producing areas, indicating risk for river side populations along the Tapajós river and for Barreira community. From the information of protective effect (or not) of selenium in hair, given the variation in Se concentration and Hg exposition between the two populations, the molar ratio Hg/Se and Hg millimole revealed a plausible correlation averaged for hair samples of riverine inhabitants belonging to Barreiras (R2 = 0.86, p<0.05) and Tabatinga (R2 = 0.57, p<0.05) community. Similarly for the fish, the molar ratio Hg/Se and Hg millimole revealed a plausible correlation averaged for fish samples carnivorous and non-carnivorous (R2 = 0.97, p<0.05)