Ethnic-racial disparities in poisoning cases: analysis of drugs of abuse, medicines and pesticides in Brazil.

In Brazil, ethnic-racial inequalities exist in all fields, obstructing access to goods, services, and opportunities, including healthcare services. However, there are no apparent studies that assess, at a national level, ethnic-racial disparities in poisoning cases, emphasizing skin color as a determining factor. The study aimed to examine the relationship between race/ethnicity and general poisoning cases, by medications, pesticides, and drug of abuse in Brazilian states. Poisoning cases data were extracted for the years 2017, 2018, and 2019. Notification data for general poisoning cases and toxic agents were collected: medications, pesticides, and drugs of abuse. Data were categorized between whites and non-whites (blacks, browns, and indigenous) and without information on skin color/ethnicity. Rates of poisonings amongst ethnic-racial groups and cases of not declared skin color as well as relative risk (RR) of poisoning among non-whites were calculated. All states in the North, Northeast (states with the worst Human Development Index), Midwest, and 2 states in the Southeast exhibited higher rates of poisoning cases per 100,000 inhabitants among non-whites. The RR values for nonwhite individuals were higher in the North and Northeast regions for all types of poisonings. The type of poisoning cases that presented the highest RR for non-whites over the 3 years was drugs of abuse (2-2.44), when compared to other types of poisonings from pesticides (2-2.33) and medications (1.5-1.91). The spatial distribution of poisoning cases rates and RR of nonwhite population support public policies to reduce socioeconomic and environmental inequalities.

Investigation on the mancozeb toxicity in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Agriculture has gained increasing importance in response to the continuous growth of the world population and constant need for food. To avoid production losses, farmers commonly use pesticides. Mancozeb is a fungicide used in agriculture as this compound is effective in combating fungi that harm crops. However, this fungicide may also produce damage to non-target organisms present in soil and water. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the influence of exposure to mancozeb on survival rate, locomotor activity, behavior, and oxidative status utilizing adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a model following exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of this pesticide. The experimental groups were negative control, positive control, and mancozeb (0.3; 1.02; 3.47; 11.8 or 40 µg/L). Zebrafish were exposed to the respective treatments for 96 hr. Exposure to mancozeb did not markedly alter survival rate and oxidative status of Danio rerio. At a concentration of 11.8 µg/L, the fungicide initiated changes in locomotor pattern of the animals. The results obtained suggest that the presence of mancozeb in the environment might produce locomotor alterations in adult zebrafish, which subsequently disrupt the animals' innate defense mechanisms. In nature, this effect attributed to mancozeb on non-target organisms might result in adverse population impacts and ecological imbalance.

Mercury exposure in riverine populations of Terra do Meio Extractive Reserves in the Xingu basin, Amazon, Brazil.

Amazon is a hotspot for mercury (Hg) contamination and Terra do Meio region, despite its protected status for sustainable use, has never been monitored for this element. Looking to address this gap, this study aimed to quantify capillary Hg concentration in riverine populations of Terra do Meio (Xingu Basin, Central Amazon, Brazil) and associated factors with high Hg levels (90 percentile). Hair samples from 182 individuals from Iriri, Riozinho do Anfrísio and Xingu Extractive Reserves (RESEX), aged between 18 and 70 years old, were collected to measure total mercury levels (HgT), and socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical-epidemiological data were annotated. Overall, high levels of Hg were observed (mean 4.985 µg/g, median 3.531 µg/g) with significant differences between localities. Among the factors related to high capillary Hg levels, male gender, smoking habit, work in agriculture, livestock or extractivism, and residence in Iriri and Riozinho do Anfrísio RESEX were highlighted. A high prevalence of symptoms related to Hg intoxication, including anxiety, memory deficit, and lower limb problems, was observed. Overall, the results reveal that communities in these RESEXs are exposed to Hg and appear to be suffering from chronic health effects. Considering the increased anthropogenic alterations observed recently in the Amazon region and the subsequent amplified environmental bioavailability of Hg, further studies and mitigating actions are critical. This includes better surveillance of illegal anthropic activities and provision of ongoing education on this matter and incentives for dietary adaptations.

A comprehensive overview of genotoxicity and mutagenicity associated with outdoor air pollution exposure in Brazil.

This review examined the mutagenicity and genotoxicity associated with exposure to outdoor air pollutants in Brazil. A search was performed on the Web of Science database using a combination of keywords that resulted in 134 articles. After applying exclusion criteria, a total of 75 articles were obtained. The articles were classified into three categories: (1) studies with plants and animals, (2) in vitro studies, and (3) human biomonitoring. The investigations were conducted in 11 of 27 Brazilian states with the highest prevalence in the southeast and south regions. Only 5 investigations focused on the effects of burning biomass on the quality of outdoor air. Plants, especially Tradescantia pallida, were the main air pollution biomonitoring tool. When available, a significant association between levels of air pollutants and genetic damage was described. Among the in vitro studies, Salmonella/microsome is the most used test to evaluate mutagenesis of outdoor air in Brazil (n = 26). Human biomonitoring studies were the least frequent category (n = 18). Most of the investigations utilized micronucleus bioassay, in oral mucosa cells (n = 15) and lymphocytes (n = 5), and the comet assay (n = 6). The analysis in this study points to the existence of gaps in genotoxicity studies and our findings indicate that future studies need to address the variety of potential sources of pollution existing in Brazil. In addition to extent of the impacts, consideration should be given to the enormous Brazilian biodiversity, as well as the determination of the role of socioeconomic inequality of the population in the observed outcomes.

Epidemiological profile, temporal analysis, and future projections of suicide cases in rural cities in the extreme south of Brazil.

The present study aimed to verify the time series (2000-2017) of death rates by suicide and its associated factors in 4 municipalities in the extreme south of Brazil. Data were obtained through the analysis of medical reports and police report bulletins at the Instituto Médico Legal, in the city of Rio Grande. The suicide rate in the Rio Grande region varied from 4 to 11 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants and it is estimated that by 2030 this rate could reach 16.5 suicides per 100,000 inhabitants. The rural cities of Santa Vitória do Palmar and Chuí present even higher suicide averages when compared to Rio Grande, the most populous city of the four. The death rate from suicide increased gradually in the period analyzed, with the prevalence rising among the youngest and the elderly population. A more comprehensive understanding of the influences of environmental issues on suicidal decisions constitutes an important action that needs to be taken, both because of regional vulnerabilities and the target population identified. Evidence indicates that knowledge of factors affecting individuals residing in this Brazilian region where increased suicide rates are recorded needs to be recognized as a priority.

Beneficial effects of mate-herb, Ilex paraguariensis St. Hil. against potassium dichromate-induced oxidative stress and nephrotoxicity.

Chimarrão is a typical beverage made from the infusion of dried and ground leaves and stems of Ilex paraguariensis (popularly known as Yerba mate or mate herb) which is widely consumed in parts of South America. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the chimarrão against nephrotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by the potassium dichromate (PD) salt in male Wistar rats. The experiment lasted 17 days, and in the first 15 days animals ingested a chimarrão infusion or control drinking water and then submitted to an intraperitoneal injection (15 mg/kg) of PD (or saline solution) and euthanized after 48 hr at which time animals still received infusion or drinking water. Blood plasma and 24 hr-urine samples were collected to measure creatinine levels as an estimate of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Concomitantly oxidative stress was determined in the kidneys as evidenced by levels of carbonyl groups, malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals. Potassium dichromate induced oxidative stress in the kidneys and reduced GFR. Treatment with chimarrão during the 15 days prior to PD injection reduced PD salt-mediated oxidative stress. Further, treatment with post-injection chimarrão to PD-administered rats improved the GFR. Our findings support that the use of the chimarrão beverage may be considered as an important nephroprotective substance.

Recycled polyvinyl chloride microplastics: investigation of environmentally relevant concentrations on toxicity in adult zebrafish.

Recycled polyvinyl chloride (PVC) microplastics have been detected in the aquatic environment. These recycled microparticles contain chemicals that are released into the environment reaching different organisms. Although the problem of the presence of recycled PVC microparticles in the environment is evident, the toxicological consequences of this contaminant to exposed organisms remains to be better determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity attributed to exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of recycled PVC microplastics in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). The experimental groups were: negative control, vehicle control, positive control, and recycled microplastics (20 ± 5 µm) at 5, 10 or 20 µg/L. Zebrafish (D. rerio) were exposed to respective treatments for 96 hr. Locomotion and oxidative status parameters were measured and mortality recorded. The positive control group presented increased mortality rates and decreased locomotor activity. Animals from the vehicle group did not show marked differences. Finally, no significant disturbances were found in survival rate, locomotion pattern and oxidative status of animals exposed to recycled PVC microparticles at 5, 10 or 20 µg/L. Taken together our results suggest that recycled PVC microplastics in this particle size range do not appear to exert harmful effects on exposed adult D. rerio. However, these results need to be carefully observed due to limitations including size of particle and duration of exposure parameters that might affect ecological consequences. It is suggested that additional studies applying other particles sizes and chronic exposure are needed to more comprehensively verify the toxicity of the contaminant investigated here.

Oxidative damage in the Vesper mouse (Calomys laucha) exposed to a simulated oil spill-a multi-organ study.

Small wild mammals have been used to measure the damage caused by exposure to oil-contaminated soil, including deer mice. However, the study of toxic effects of crude oil using oxidative damage biomarkers in the wild rodent Calomys laucha (Vesper mouse) is absent. This investigation aimed to evaluate the effects of acute exposure to contaminated soil with different concentrations of crude oil (0, 1, 2, 4 and 8% w/w), simulating an accidental spill, using oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver, kidneys, lungs, testes, paw muscle, and lymphocytes of C. laucha. Animals exposed to the contaminated soil showed increases in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation at the highest exposure concentrations in most organ homogenates analyzed and also in blood cells, but responses to total antioxidant capacity were tissue-dependent. These results showed that acute exposure to oil-contaminated soil caused oxidative damage in C. laucha and indicate these small mammals may be susceptible to suffer the impacts of such contamination in its occurrence region, threatening the species' survival.

Better understanding the behavior of air pollutants at shutdown times - results of a short full lockdown.

Numerous studies have evaluated the effects of lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, but most of them have concerned large cities and regions. This study aimed to evaluate the dynamics of air pollutants during and after the implementation of a short lockdown in the medium-sized city of Pelotas, Brazil, using hourly measurements of pollutants. The evaluation period included in this study was between August 9th and 12th, 2020. A machine learning model was used to investigate the expected behavior against what was observed during the study period. All pollutants presented a gradual reduction until a dynamic plateau established 48 hours after the start of the lockdown: NO2 (↓4%), O3 (↓34%), SO2 (↓24%), CO (↓48%), PM10 (↓82%) and PM2.5 (↓82%). At the end of the restriction measures, the PM10 and PM2.5 levels continued to decline beyond expectations. Our findings show that these measures can positively affect the air quality in medium-sized cities.

Effect of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) on health indicators: climate change scenarios in a Brazilian metropolis.

Recife is recognized as the 16th most vulnerable city to climate change in the world. In addition, the city has levels of air pollutants above the new limits proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2021. In this sense, the present study had two main objectives: (1) To evaluate the health (and economic) benefits related to the reduction in mean annual concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 considering the new limits recommended by the WHO: 15 µg/m3 (PM10) and 5 µg/m3 (PM2.5) and (2) To simulate the behavior of these pollutants in scenarios with increased temperature (2 and 4 °C) using machine learning. The averages of PM2.5 and PM10 were above the limits recommended by the WHO. The scenario simulating the reduction in these pollutants below the new WHO limits would avoid more than 130 deaths and 84 hospital admissions for respiratory or cardiovascular problems. This represents a gain of 15.2 months in life expectancy and a cost of almost 160 million dollars. Regarding the simulated temperature increase, the most conservative (+ 2 °C) and most drastic (+ 4 °C) scenarios predict an increase of approximately 6.5 and 15%, respectively, in the concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, with a progressive increase in deaths attributed to air pollution. The study shows that the increase in temperature will have impacts on air particulate matter and health outcomes. Climate change mitigation and pollution control policies must be implemented for meeting new WHO air quality standards which may have health benefits.

Multiple exposure pathways and health risk assessment of potentially harmful elements for children and adults living in a coal region in Brazil.

Energy generated by coal can contaminate the environment by releasing toxic elements, including metals. The human health risk assessment (HHRA) associated with geographic information system (GIS) tools can assist the management of contaminated areas, such as coal mining areas. The objective of the study was to carry out the assessment and spatialization of the risk to human health of potentially hazards elements (PHEs) in the soil for children and adults, from multiple exposure routes (oral, inhalation and dermal) in the Candiota mines, largest coal mining region of Brazil. The non-carcinogenic risks (HQ) of PHEs (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cr, Fe, Mn, Cd, As and Se) and carcinogenic risks of As were estimated and spatialized. The results revealed a risk for children exposure to Mn, with greatest contribution through dermal route. Mn (HQderm 72.41-96.09% and HQinh 40.84-82.52%) and Fe (HQo 43.90-81.44%) were the metals with greatest contribution to human health risk among studied population. As did not present carinogenic risk to adults. The spatial distribution of non-carcinogenic risk showed that Cr, As, Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu have higher HInc close to the coal mining areas, while Mn, Se and Cd have the highest HInc values in surrounding municipalities (Pinheiro Machado; Pedras Altas and Hulha Negra). The use of HHRA associated with GIS tools provides important elements for decision-making in the management of contaminated sites, indicating chemical elements, locations, routes of exposure and priority target populations.

Emissions monitoring and carcinogenic risk assessment of PM10-bounded PAHs in the air from Candiota's coal activity area, Brazil.

The city of Candiota contains a great amount of coal resources. Coal activities, including coal combustion, are major releasers of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The PAHs are considered priority air pollutants regarding their large carcinogenic potential. So, the carcinogenic risk assessment of populations living near areas with PAH sources is mandatory. This study aimed to evaluate the carcinogenic health risk of the PAH inhalation exposure of individuals living in Candiota City. A total of 158 individuals were enrolled in the study. Monitoring of PAH and meteorological parameters were carried out, and the health risk assessment was determined through the benzo(a)pyrene equivalent toxic equivalent quotient (BaP-TEQ) and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) estimation. The coal activity area of Candiota demonstrated an annual PAH concentration of 27.7 ng/m3, PM10 concentration of 26.3 µg/m3, SO2 concentration of 9.5 µg/m3, a BaP-TEQ value of 0.3 ng/m3, and a daily inhalation of 62.4 ng/day. The comparison among seasons showed no difference in PAH concentration and BaP-TEQ. It was observed ILCR values of 2.8 × 10-6 and 2.6 × 10-6 for estimation based on reference and real values, respectively, and these levels were above the reference limit of 10-6, indicating cancer risk. Therefore, an epidemiological survey of cancer cases in the region and its relationship with environmental exposure and air pollutants levels must be required.

Mushroom extract of Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Sf. Gray as biopesticide: Antifungal activity and toxicological analysis.

Monilinia fructicola (Wint.) Honey is a plant pathogenic fungus that infects stone fruits such as peach, nectarine and plum, which are high demand cultivars found in Brazil. This pathogen may remain latent in the host, showing no apparent signs of disease, and consequently may spread to different countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of hydroalcoholic extract (HydE) obtained from Lactarius deliciosus (L.) Sf. Gray a mushroom, against M. fructicola phytopathogenic-induced mycelial growth. In addition, the purpose of this study was to examine phytotoxicity attributed to HydE using Brassica oleracea seeds, as well as cytotoxic analysis of this extract on cells of mouse BALB/c monocyte macrophage cell line (J774A.1 cell line) (ATCC TIB-67). The L. deliciosus HydE inhibited fungal growth and reduced phytopathogen mycelial development at a concentration of 1.25 mg/ml. Our results demonstrated that the extract exhibited phytotoxicity as evidenced by (1) interference on germination percentage and rate index, (2) decreased root and initial growth measures, and (3) lower fresh weight of seedlings but no cytotoxicity in Vero cell lines. Data suggest that the use of the L. deliciosus extracts may be beneficial for fungal control without any apparent adverse actions on mouse BALB/c monocyte macrophage cell line (J774A.1 cell line) viability.

Trends in pneumoconiosis in Brazil, 1979-2019.

BACKGROUND: Pneumoconiosis is a lung disease related to exposure to dust in the workplace. The disease can induce irreversible damage to health, especially in lung tissue, and can cause progressive and permanent physical disabilities. AIMS: This study evaluated the temporal and spatial distribution of mortality rates (1979-2019) and hospital admissions (1995-2019) for pneumoconiosis in Brazil. METHODS: The outcomes were hospitalization and death due to pneumoconiosis: codes 500-506 according to the ICD-9 and J60-J66 according to the ICD-10. Data from this retrospective ecological study were collected from the Brazilian Ministry of Health database. RESULTS: Hospitalization for pneumoconiosis has decreased in all regions of Brazil. Hospitalizations occurred predominantly in men aged over 40 years. Death rates showed a temporal increase in all regions. Deaths occurred predominantly in men aged over 50 years. The highest hospitalization and death rates were in the states of the Midwest and South Regions. CONCLUSIONS: Pneumoconiosis is a preventable occupational disease, and ongoing occurrences of hospitalizations and deaths highlight the importance of inspecting industries and controlling occupational and environmental exposures.

Unexpected reduction in ozone levels in a mid-size city during COVID-19 lockdown.

The current study evaluated ozone levels through passive samplers installed in 4 different points in a medium-sized city (Rio Grande, Brazil) with naturally low NO2 levels during a week of COVID-19 lockdown. Additionally, we evaluated the consequences of this response with regard to human health risk assessment and reduction of hospital admissions and ozone-related deaths. The reduction in ozone levels, one month after the implementation of containment measures, varied between 26 and 64% (average of 44%), in the different studied sites. The reduction of human mobility during the pandemic reduced the levels of ozone in Rio Grande city and consequently will bring benefits to health services in the municipality. This unexpected reduction in O3 levels must be related to the low 'natural' levels of NO2 in the city, which make the contribution of other precursors important for the fluctuation of O3 levels.

O3 concentration and duration of exposure are factors influencing the environmental health risk of exercising in Rio Grande, Brazil.

Ozone (O3) represents a great threat to human health, contributing to respiratory diseases and premature mortality. This pollutant is often considered a critical pollutant in regions of southern Brazil. Exposure to this pollutant during vigorous physical activity should be the subject of thorough investigations due to the increased ventilation rate and altered breathing pattern present during vigorous physical activity that result in greater inhalation of O3. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the health risk of exposure to low, mean, and high concentrations of O3 during different durations of exercise in the city of Rio Grande (southern Brazil). Healthy young men (n = 45) performed cardiopulmonary exercise testing, and ventilation rate data were collected to predict total ventilation and pollutant inhalation during a 5 km running session. The O3 concentration in the city of Rio Grande was obtained from data reported by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The environmental health risk was calculated based on the potential intake dose. The lowest, mean, and highest concentrations of O3 detected during the monitoring period were 32.5, 64.9, and 115.2 µg/m3, respectively. In all evaluated scenarios, there was a toxicological risk (RQ > 1), except when exercising when the O3 concentration was lowest for the shortest length of time (p < 0.001). As the concentration of O3 and the duration of the exposure increase, the health risk is increased. Therefore, O3 concentration and duration of exposure are factors influencing the health risk of exercising. These findings are extremely relevant in cities that have high levels of O3, such as the city of Rio Grande.

Weekend effect on air pollutant levels in southernmost cities of Brazil with different economic activities.

In view of the current premises of the need to investigate air pollution in small- and medium-sized cities, combined with concerns regarding the weekly behavior of air pollutants, this study aimed to investigate the weekly pattern of air pollution (O3, NO2, SO2, PM2.5) and the weekend effect in 4 Brazilian cities with different main economic activities. Our main findings include (1) positive weekend effect for all the assessed air pollutants in the four cities; therefore, in the southernmost region of Brazil, there was an increase in the concentration of air pollutants during weekends when compared to weekdays; (2) the highest levels of NO2 and SO2 were observed in the city characterized by the economic activity revolving around coal mining and generation of electricity through the burning of this mineraloid in a coal-fired power plant, while the highest levels of PM2.5 were in the city with economic activity linked to industries, due to its recognized industrial complex; and (3) the seasonal evaluation of the weekend effect showed different behaviors for the air pollutants in each location, which is related to the set of meteorological conditions, economic activities, and population mobility in each location. In conclusion, our results demonstrate the aspects of pollution between cities and highlight that the comprehensive understanding of the weekend effect and its intricacies allows the responsible personal and government authorities to gain deep insights into the true effectiveness of future control strategies and the development of possible action plans.

Health impacts of PM2.5-bound metals and PAHs in a medium-sized Brazilian city.

Rio Grande is a medium-sized industrial city located in the extreme south of Brazil, and previous studies in this city have shown contamination by metal(loids) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water, soil, and sediment and in the atmosphere. In Brazil, the incorporation of PM2.5 monitoring in environmental legislation is recent (2018) and, like other developing countries, the number of studies is still small. This study aimed to investigate the levels of PM2.5 in the industrial and urban area of Rio Grande, to determine the concentration of metal(loid)s As, Cd, Cu, and Pb and of 16 PAHs in the samples of PM2.5, to perform the health risk assessment for these contaminants and the health impact assessment for two possible scenarios of reduction of PM2.5 levels. Our main findings regarding the PM2.5 samples include the following: (1) The levels of this pollutant in the city of Rio Grande were higher than those allowed in current Brazilian legislation, in both the industrial and urban areas; (2) the existence of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for metals present in all samples; (3) the absence of carcinogenic risk for the assessed PAHs; and (4) the reduction scenarios proposed pointed to a reduction of up to 22 deaths annually in conjunction with reductions in health-related expenditures. Thus, these results may serve as a basis for the development of public health policies aimed at improving air quality, jointly assisting health surveillance and directing future studies towards a better intrinsic approach to the problem.

Neurodevelopmental Outcomes among Brazilian Children with Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease and Its Associated Factors.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate neurodevelopmental outcomes (motor development, nonverbal intelligence, and attention) in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) compared with healthy children from a public hospital in southern Brazil. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study with pediatric patients of both sexes: 37 children with cyanotic CHD and a control group with 38 healthy children. Parents/guardians undertook a questionnaire and the SNAP IV scale (to evaluate attention) was applied. Two instruments were applied to each child: the R-2 Non-Verbal Intelligence test and the motor development scale. To assess the factors associated with insufficient performance in the three fields of neurodevelopment, a Poisson regression analysis was performed with a robust estimate. Results: There were no significant differences between children with cyanotic CHD and the control group for any of the neurodevelopmental outcomes studied. Low socioeconomic class was a factor associated with worse performance on the intelligence test and inattention. Furthermore, age was a factor for performance on the intelligence test, while a greater number of siblings was a factor associated with worse performance on the attention test. Conclusions: Public policies regarding child health must involve prioritizing the improvement of families' social conditions.

Health risk assessment in urban parks soils contaminated by metals, Rio Grande city (Brazil) case study.

Soils and artificial surfaces of urban parks can be contaminated by toxic substances and offer risk to the human health, especially to children. Rio Grande city, southern Brazil, is a peculiar site from the point of view of environmental contamination, since the current levels of contamination reflect an accumulation of different polluting sources started in the 18th century up to the urban and industrial sources of the present. The history of Hg contamination refers to the use of Hg salts in textile activities in the 18th century and the consequent use of contaminated sediments to land urban areas. The current contamination involves metals such as Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn is related to the high degree of urbanization in the city, as well as the petrochemical and fertilizer industry. The study aimed to achieve a human health risk assessment of urban parks soils, specifically for Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. To carry out the risk assessment using the USEPA model, three urban parks with a history of contamination were studied, using different soil exposure pathways (oral, dermal and inhalation) in the carcinogenic (Ni and Pb) and non-carcinogenic (Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn) scenarios for children and adults. The non-carcinogenic risk of Pb was found in the three urban parks studied, for children and Hg in two urban parks. Pb and Ni showed no carcinogenic risk. Even so, the high non-carcinogenic risk of Hg and Pb showed that the contamination of the past and the present are found in the urban parks of Rio Grande city, putting the health of children who use these collective spaces at risk.