RESUMO
The Tapajós River basin in the Amazon region, Brazil is one of the most active gold mining areas in the world. In this study, we evaluated fish consumption habits and mercury exposure in 110 pregnant women in the city of Itaituba by measuring their total hair mercury concentrations. In addition, we investigated seasonal differences in mercury concentrations in two highly consumed piscivorous fish species, tucunaré (Cichla spp.) and pescada (Plagioscion squamosissimus). Total fish mercury concentrations (THg) during the dry season were 0.62±0.07 mg/kg for Cichla spp. and 0.73±0.08 mg/kg for P. squamosissimus. During the rainy season they were 0.39±0.04 and 0.84±0.08 mg/ kg, respectively. Of our participants 44 % declared that they ate Cichla spp. and 67 % P. squamosissimus. Mean mercury concentration in their hair was 1.6±0.2 mg/kg and was above the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) reference dose of 1 mg/kg in 48 % of them. Mean fish THg concentrations were also above the joint Food and Drug Administration and US EPA safety limit of 0.5 mg/kg for P. squamosissimus during both seasons and for Cichla spp. during the dry season only. These results show that pregnant women should avoid consumption of these piscivorous fish species during pregnancy and call for a regular programme to monitor Hg levels in that area.
Assuntos
Ciclídeos , Mercúrio , Animais , Brasil , Feminino , Hábitos , Cabelo , Humanos , Gravidez , Gestantes , Rios , Estados UnidosRESUMO
Resumo A Política Nacional de Atenção à Saúde dos Povos Indígenas (PNASI) foi instituída pelo Ministério da Saúde reestruturando a Atenção Básica à Saúde Indígena, seguindo os princípios e diretrizes do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Este estudo visa identificar as dificuldades enfrentadas pelos indígenas durante o período de permanência na Casa de Saúde Indígena (Casai) em Santarém (PA), na região amazônica. Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo exploratório, cuja abordagem ocorreu por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, gravadas e transcritas com 15 indígenas de cinco etnias, assistidas pela Casai (Mawayana, Tunayana, Wai-wai, Tiriyó e Katwena), com auxílio de um tradutor que dominava os dialetos. Utilizamos a análise de conteúdo emergindo em categorias temáticas: as dificuldades enfrentadas durante o período de adaptação na Casai/Santarém, o sentimento em deixar a terra indígena e as perspectivas quanto às melhorias no período de permanência. Consideramos que, apesar das crescentes mudanças e avanços na saúde indígena no Brasil, necessita-se de melhorias que possam atender de fato às peculiaridades de saúde próprias de cada etnia.
Abstract The National Policy of Health Care to the Indigenous Peoples (PNASI) was established by the Ministry of Health restructuring the Primary Care to Indigenous Health, following the principles and guidelines from the Unified Health System (SUS). This study aims to identify the difficulties faced by the indigenous peoples during the stay in the Indigenous Health Center (Casai) in Santarém (PA), in the Amazon region. It is an exploratory qualitative study, whose approach was through semi-structured interviews, recorded and transcribed, with 15 indigenous people from five ethnic groups, assisted by the Casai (Mawayana, Tunayana, Wai-wai, Tiriyó and Katwena), with help from a translator acquainted with the dialects. We used the content analysis arising from thematic categories: the difficulties faced during the adaptation period in the Casai/Santarém, the feeling about leaving the indigenous land and the perspectives regarding the improvements during the stay. We consider that, despite the increasing changes and advances in indigenous health in Brazil, improvements that can truly meet the health peculiarities of each ethnic group are necessary.