Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land
The Yanomami Indigenous Land (YIL) is heavily impacted by illegal gold mining, leading to significant contamination by methylmercury, a neurotoxin that poses severe risks to human health. The fetal brain is particularly susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, which can result in mild...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos Raiane Fontes de Oliveira Marcos Wesley Oliveira Paulo Cesar Basta |
| author_facet | Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos Raiane Fontes de Oliveira Marcos Wesley Oliveira Paulo Cesar Basta |
| author_sort | Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos |
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| description | The Yanomami Indigenous Land (YIL) is heavily impacted by illegal gold mining, leading to significant contamination by methylmercury, a neurotoxin that poses severe risks to human health. The fetal brain is particularly susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, which can result in mild mental retardation (MMR). The goal of this study was to estimate the burden of disease (BoD) associated with methylmercury exposure in the YIL and its economic implications. The BoD calculations followed World Health Organization (WHO) methodologies. To estimate the local BoD, hair samples were collected from women of childbearing age in the Waikás, Mucajaí, Paapiu, and Maturacá regions. For broader estimates, data from the scientific literature were used. The average hair methylmercury concentrations in these investigated regions were 6.21 µg/g, 3.86 µg/g, 3.53 µg/g, and 2.96 µg/g, respectively. The MMR incidence rate (IR) in children ranged from 2.08 to 4.47 per 1000 in these regions. The Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 1000 births varied from 24.8 to 53.4. In the Worst-Case Scenario, MMR-IR reached 9 per 1000, with DALYs per 1000 births rising to 109.6. The estimated economic impact of methylmercury exposure ranged from USD 716,750 to USD 3,153,700. This study is the first to quantify the MMR incidence due to mercury in the YIL, highlighting the severe threat posed by gold mining to the health and survival of the Yanomami people. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ab40d01ec8f474bb03263d418b32d4d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Toxics |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ab40d01ec8f474bb03263d418b32d4d2025-08-20T03:47:57ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-04-0113533910.3390/toxics13050339Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous LandAna Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos0Raiane Fontes de Oliveira1Marcos Wesley Oliveira2Paulo Cesar Basta3Laboratory of Professional Education in Health Surveillance, Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic Health School, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, RJ, BrazilLaboratory of Professional Education in Health Surveillance, Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic Health School, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Rio de Janeiro 21041-210, RJ, BrazilRio Negro Program, Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA)—Pç. Dom José Gaspar, 134 (12th Floor), São Paulo 01047-912, SP, BrazilDepartment of Endemic Diseases Samuel Pessoa, National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rua Leopoldo Bulhões 1480, Rio de Janeiro 21041-21, RJ, BrazilThe Yanomami Indigenous Land (YIL) is heavily impacted by illegal gold mining, leading to significant contamination by methylmercury, a neurotoxin that poses severe risks to human health. The fetal brain is particularly susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of methylmercury, which can result in mild mental retardation (MMR). The goal of this study was to estimate the burden of disease (BoD) associated with methylmercury exposure in the YIL and its economic implications. The BoD calculations followed World Health Organization (WHO) methodologies. To estimate the local BoD, hair samples were collected from women of childbearing age in the Waikás, Mucajaí, Paapiu, and Maturacá regions. For broader estimates, data from the scientific literature were used. The average hair methylmercury concentrations in these investigated regions were 6.21 µg/g, 3.86 µg/g, 3.53 µg/g, and 2.96 µg/g, respectively. The MMR incidence rate (IR) in children ranged from 2.08 to 4.47 per 1000 in these regions. The Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) per 1000 births varied from 24.8 to 53.4. In the Worst-Case Scenario, MMR-IR reached 9 per 1000, with DALYs per 1000 births rising to 109.6. The estimated economic impact of methylmercury exposure ranged from USD 716,750 to USD 3,153,700. This study is the first to quantify the MMR incidence due to mercury in the YIL, highlighting the severe threat posed by gold mining to the health and survival of the Yanomami people.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/5/339mild mental retardationillegal gold miningdisability-adjusted life years |
| spellingShingle | Ana Claudia Santiago de Vasconcellos Raiane Fontes de Oliveira Marcos Wesley Oliveira Paulo Cesar Basta Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land Toxics mild mental retardation illegal gold mining disability-adjusted life years |
| title | Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land |
| title_full | Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land |
| title_fullStr | Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land |
| title_full_unstemmed | Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land |
| title_short | Burden of Disease Attributed to Prenatal Methylmercury Exposure in the Yanomami Indigenous Land |
| title_sort | burden of disease attributed to prenatal methylmercury exposure in the yanomami indigenous land |
| topic | mild mental retardation illegal gold mining disability-adjusted life years |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/5/339 |
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