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.

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.

Human health risk assessment of metals in soil samples of a Brazilian city with a historic contamination complex.

Rio Grande is a city located on a narrow industrialized and urbanized Brazilian peninsula, characterized by wetlands. Due to population growth, numerous urban backfilled regions were built to expand the territorial area of the city. Currently, more than 60% of the central area of the city comes from the grounding of wetlands. The material used for the expansion of the territory had a history of contamination from metals from the tannery and textile industries (mainly Hg) and urban solid waste. In addition to past sources, the city has an active industrial complex with fertilizer, petrochemical, and grain industries. This study evaluated the risks to human health caused by metals (Hg, Fe, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn) in original soils and backfills, considering the oral, inhalation, and dermal routes of exposure for children and adults using the tool human health risk assessment (HHRA) proposed methodology by USEPA. A total of 63.81% of the original soil samples and 57.14% of the backfill soil samples showed a non-carcinogenic risk (HInc>1) for at least one evaluated metal. Still, approximately 10% of the samples presented carcinogenic risk when the Cr was considered in the hexavalent form. The dermal (Hg, Ni, and Cr) and oral (Fe, Cu, and Zn) exposure routes had the greatest contribution to the total risk. The non-carcinogenic risk for Hg, Cr(VI), and Pb was heterogeneously distributed between the original soils and backfills and associated with the proximity to some pollution sources. Given the complexity of historical occupation in the municipality and the increasing industrialization, both the original areas and the backfills should be included in the risk management strategy to minimize risks.