Mercury persistence in indoor environments in the Amazon Region, Brazil

被引:20
作者
Bastos, WR [1 ]
Fonseca, MD
Pinto, FN
Rebelo, MD
dos Santos, SS
da Silveira, EG
Torres, JPM
Malm, O
Pfeiffer, WC
机构
[1] Fed Univ Rondonia, Environm Biogeochem Lab, BR-78900500 Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
[2] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, CCS, IBCCF, Radioisotopes Lab EPF, BR-21949900 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
关键词
mercury vapor; Tillandsia usneoides; gold trade shops; occupational exposure;
D O I
10.1016/j.envres.2004.01.008
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
We evaluated the indoor atmospheric Hg contamination in gold trade shops in two Brazilian cities of the Legal Amazon area using the Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides, Bromeliaceae) as a sentinel species. Plants inside plastic cages were exposed to a controlled atmosphere to evaluate the rate of Hg retention over time and then distributed in several stores with different characteristics to enable a relative comparison. Hg concentrations were determined by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Plants exposed in active stores with good air circulation exhibited lower levels. Ex-gold trade shops that were kept closed for long periods exhibited higher values. Stores that have been restored before being transformed into new businesses exhibited lower values than nonrestored ones. Direct measurements suggest that indoor Hg air concentrations were below the threshold limit recommended by the World Health Organization to occupational exposure; nevertheless, restoring ex-gold trade shops could ensure a healthier working environment. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:235 / 238
页数:4
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