In Para, Brazil, mercury pollution in the Tapajos River has led to alarming health crises among the Indigenous Munduruku people. Symptoms included neurological disorders in adults and developmental issues in children. An investigation by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation revealed that a significant portion of the population showed mercury levels surpassing safety standards, triggering irreversible health problems. This contamination, exacerbated by local mining activities, has not only affected the individuals but also severely impacted the local ecosystem, making the river a source of poison instead of sustenance.
We didn't understand what was happening, why so many people were having these problems, Alessandra Korap Munduruku, an Indigenous leader, shared with EL PAIS.
The river was sick and it was making everyone sick, says Korap, highlighting the profound impact of mercury pollution on local communities.
We observed adults with severe neurological disorders associated with high mercury contamination, says Paulo Basta, a doctor and researcher involved in the Fiocruz study.
By analyzing hair samples from residents and fish, researchers found that six out of 10 people had mercury levels exceeding international safety standards.
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