Prevalence and factors associated with mercury exposure in riverside communities in the Brazilian Western Amazon

ABSTRACT Objective: to verify mercury exposure prevalence and identify its possible associated factors in two riverside communities in the Madeira River basin of the Western Brazilian Amazon. Method: a cross-sectional study comprising 95 children and adolescents. Age cycle, school attendance, Bolsa Família, number of siblings, meals, fish consumption, height by age were measured. Binary logistic regression was used to verify relationships between mercury exposure and its possible associated factors. Results: the general prevalence of mercury exposure was 46.3%; children, 35.4%; and adolescents, 57.4%. Associated factors were fish consumption (aOR=1.84; 95%CI 1.56-2.16), age cycle (aOR=2.50; 95%CI 1.09-5.7), parasites (aOR=1.22; 95%CI 1.02-2.71), and short stature (aOR=1.32; 95%CI 1.05-2.02). Conclusion: mercury exposure prevalence in riverside children and adolescents was considered worrying, with association with fish consumption, adolescence, parasites, and short stature.摘要 目的：验证巴西亚马逊西部马代拉河（Madeira River）流域沿岸两个社区的汞暴露流行率，并明确其潜在相关影响因素。 方法：本研究为横断面研究（cross-sectional study），共纳入95名儿童及青少年。收集并测量的指标包括年龄分层、就学情况、家庭补助金计划（Bolsa Família）、兄弟姐妹数量、膳食摄入情况、鱼类食用频率、年龄别身高。采用二元logistic回归（binary logistic regression）分析汞暴露与各潜在相关因素之间的关联。 结果：总体汞暴露流行率为46.3%；其中儿童组为35.4%，青少年组为57.4%。相关影响因素包括鱼类摄入（校正优势比aOR=1.84；95%置信区间CI：1.56~2.16）、年龄分层（aOR=2.50；95%CI：1.09~5.7）、寄生虫感染（aOR=1.22；95%CI：1.02~2.71）以及身材矮小（aOR=1.32；95%CI：1.05~2.02）。 结论：沿河社区儿童及青少年的汞暴露流行率令人担忧，且该暴露与鱼类摄入、青少年阶段、寄生虫感染及身材矮小存在显著关联。