Evaluación de la exposición a mercurio en población del municipio de Nechí – Antioquia y niveles en matrices ambientales

Abstract

Introduction: In Nechi - Antioquia, gold extraction through artisanal mining is one of the main activities within the municipality's economy. This activity has generated a significant increase in mercury levels (a metal commonly used during mineral extraction) in environmental matrices, which in turn can affect the health of the exposed population. Objective: To determine the exposure to mercury in the occupationally and environmentally exposed population of the municipality of Nechí - Antioquia and the levels in environmental matrices. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was proposed, in a sample of 100 people in Nechí - Antioquia, from which 50% corresponded to an occupationally exposed population and 50% environmentally exposed to whom the detection of mercury levels in biological samples (hair) was achieved and the levels of this metal in environmental matrices (water and fish) were analyzed. . Sociodemographic and occupational variables, history of environmental exposure and habits of the study population are included. Measures of central tendency and dispersion were calculated and relationships were sought between the health variables included in the study. Results: 104 people entered the study with an average age of 50 years, of whom 76% were men and 61.3% were engaged in mining and agriculture, statistically significant differences were found between those occupationally and environmentally exposed for the variables sex (p=0.001), type of affiliation to the social security system (p=0.024), schooling (p=0.04) and occupation (p=0.001). For the values ​​of mercury in hair, a significant difference was found between those exposed occupationally and environmentally (p=0.023), with means of 3.96 ppm (SD 3.56 ppm) and 2.43 ppm (DS 1.8 ppm ) respectively, in both groups the levels were above the reference value. Conclusion: High levels of mercury in hair were presented for occupational and environmental levels, exceeding the reference limit in groups and finding both levels higher in those exposed at work. No elevated mercury values ​​were found in environmental matrices.