Leandra Fonseca

Conference 2024 Hot-Doc

Talk Title

Genotoxicity and mutagenicity of mercury in reproductive women and Yanomami children: Bibliographic review

Authors and Affiliations

Leandra Nascimento Fonseca1
Undergraduate student of Biomedicine at the Department of Biopharma and Health Sciences Unicensumar, Maringá – Paraná, Brazil.

Abstract

Background

Mercury contamination is a global concern with health and environmental implications. Mercury can impact health, causing damage to the nervous system and developmental issues in fetuses. The genotoxic and mutagenic effects on women of reproductive age and children Yanomai are rarely addressed. We aim to fill this gap through a bibliographic review.

Methods

We conducted a literature review on the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of mercury on reproductive women and Yanomami children. Relevant studies were searched in databases like “Google Scholar”, “SciElo”, “MedLine”, and “PubMed”. Articles published before 1980 and those focused on urban populations were excluded. Of the 78 studies found, nine cite the Yanomami indigenous peoples.

Results

Our research in the Brazilian Amazon discovered irresistiblemutagenic and genotoxic effects in reproductive-age women and Yanomami children due to chronic mercury exposure from illegal mining. Mercury impacts various biological systems, particularly the brain. In vitro studies revealed that mercury inhibits the cell cycle and/or reduces cells’ proliferative capacity.

Conclusions

Our research revealed that illegal mining has led to chronic mercury exposure in Yanomami women and children, causing mutagenic and genotoxic effects. exposure disrupts normal cell division in the Central Nervous System (CNS). Preliminary findings suggest that mercury’s genotoxicity primarily occurs through free radicals damaging DNA and cells, potentially leading to carcinogenesis. These findings highlight the need for interventions to mitigate the impact of illegal mining and protect the health of the local population.
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