TY - JOUR
T1 - Persistent toxic substances in the Brazilian Amazon
T2 - Contamination of man and the environment
AU - Torres, João Paulo M.
AU - Lailson-Brito, José
AU - Saldanha, Giselle C.
AU - Dorneles, Paulo
AU - e Silva, Cláudio Eduardo A.
AU - Malm, Olaf
AU - Guimarães, Jean R.
AU - Azeredo, Antônio
AU - Bastos, Wanderley R.
AU - da Silva, Vera Maria F.
AU - Martin, Anthony R.
AU - Cláudio, Luz
AU - Markowitz, Steve
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The organochlorine insecticide DDT was extensively used in Brazil since 1945, both for agricultural purposes and for vector control measures. In 1986 its uses were forbidden in agriculture and in 1997 it was also phased-out in vector controls programs. However, the presence of DDT in urban and forested soils, breast milk and aquatic biota is still common, especially at the Amazon region. The results gathered since the middle of the 90s indicate that environmental contamination with this pesticide is still relatively high. Due to the high fish consumption by traditional riverside populations, human breast milk may represent an important source of DDT exposure to newborns. New results on DDT and PCBs in red dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), an endemic aquatic mammal of the Amazon region, is also reported.
AB - The organochlorine insecticide DDT was extensively used in Brazil since 1945, both for agricultural purposes and for vector control measures. In 1986 its uses were forbidden in agriculture and in 1997 it was also phased-out in vector controls programs. However, the presence of DDT in urban and forested soils, breast milk and aquatic biota is still common, especially at the Amazon region. The results gathered since the middle of the 90s indicate that environmental contamination with this pesticide is still relatively high. Due to the high fish consumption by traditional riverside populations, human breast milk may represent an important source of DDT exposure to newborns. New results on DDT and PCBs in red dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), an endemic aquatic mammal of the Amazon region, is also reported.
KW - Amazon
KW - DDT
KW - Inia geoffrensis
KW - POPs
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=68949213941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1590/S0103-50532009000600024
DO - 10.1590/S0103-50532009000600024
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:68949213941
SN - 0103-5053
VL - 20
SP - 1175
EP - 1179
JO - Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
JF - Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society
IS - 6
ER -