Table 9.
Hair mercury levels in the Tapajós River Basin, Occupational Groups
| Study | Locations and groups |
N | Hg mean μg/g (median) [SD] |
Range μg/g | > 10 μg/ga | Fish consumption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harada et al. 2001 | Fishermen and families | |||||
| Barreiras | 76 | 16.4 [10.6] | 1.8-53.8 | 75% | ||
| Rainha | 12 | 14.1 [9.3] | 3.1-34.5 | 67% | ||
| São Luís do Tapajós | 44 | 20.8 [10.6] | 5.1-42.2 | 86% | ||
| Lebel et al. 1997 | Brasília Legal | |||||
| Fishermen | 14 | (27.3) | > 50% | 68.8% of total meals | ||
| Lebel et al. 1998 | Brasília Legal | |||||
| Fishermen | 11 | 23.9 [9.3] | ||||
| Santos, de Jesus et al. 2002 | Sai Cinza | 324 | 16.0 [18.9] | 4,5-90,4 | ||
| Agriculture | 127 | 17.3 | 6.8-90.4 | |||
| Gold mining | 6 | 13.8 | 10.7-18.5 | |||
| Both of the above | 25 | 13.8 | 6.9-25.7 | |||
| Others | 11 | 12.3 | 6.6-20.6 | |||
| Children up to 6 y/o | 93 | 16.8 | 4.5-66.6 | |||
| Students | 38 | 15.1 | 9.0-38.7 | |||
| Without information | 24 | 17.0 | 9.6-30.8 |
aPercentage of the population with hair mercury levels higher than 10 μg/g.