Illustration of a school of fish. - Catters / SIPA

Nearly a third of fish in the Brazilian state of Amapa, bordering French Guiana, present risks to consumption due to mercury contamination from gold panning, according to a study released this week . The results of this study conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and three Brazilian research centers show that these fish represent "a risk to the health" of local communities.

The researchers analyzed more than 400 fish caught in five regions of Amapa, deep in the Amazon rainforest, including in watersheds located near protected areas, between August 2017 and May 2018. The mercury concentration increased. was found to be "above the food safe limit in 77.6% of carnivorous fish, 20% of omnivores and 2.4% of herbivores," according to the study.

Highly consumed species of fish

"Four of the seven species with the highest concentrations of mercury are among the most consumed in the region", specify the researchers, citing in particular the pirapucu (Boulengerella cuvieri) or the tucunaré (Cichla monoculus). The study points out that consuming more than 200 grams of contaminated fish can cause serious health problems, including kidney or neurological problems.

This strong presence of mercury in the Amazonian rivers is due to the artisanal miners who use this chemical component to separate the gold particles from other minerals. "This study presents important data on the level of destruction represented by gold panning in the Amazon", explains Marcelo Oliveira, specialist of the Brazilian branch of WWF.

“We knew how harmful gold panning is for the forest, but now we have evidence of how it can destroy the health of those who live in the area,” he adds. This study was also carried out by researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Ensp / Fiocruz), the Scientific Research Institute of Amapa (IEPA) and the Indigenous Research and Training Institute (Iepé).

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  • World
  • Brazil
  • Mercury
  • Guyana
  • Pollution
  • Contamination
  • Fish