The impacts of mining on the health of indigenous peoples in the Amazon

Authors

  • Gabriel Costa Farias Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-4769-6700
  • Lucas Gabriel Cardoso de Souza Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1885-0436
  • Marcos Vinicius Luz Barbosa Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4951-3408
  • Matheus Valente dos Santos Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8094-6675
  • Victor Pamplona Menescal de Souza Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3187-8366
  • Vanja da Cunha Bezerra Universidade do Estado do Pará (UEPA), Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Faculdade de Medicina – Campus II, Belém, PA, Brasil. https://orcid.org/0009-0008-2461-533X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5327/prmj.940

Keywords:

indigenous peoples, mining, indigenous health

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze, through an integrative review, the impacts of illegal mining in the Amazon on the health of indigenous populations. Methods: An integrative review was conducted with searches in the LILACS, Medline/PubMed, and SciELO databases. The time frame spanned from January 2019 to March 2025, resulting in the selection and analysis of 14 scientific articles. Results: A direct relationship was evidenced between mining activity and environmental mercury contamination, with methylmercury levels in biological samples frequently exceeding WHO safety limits. The main impacts include neurotoxicity (cognitive and motor deficits), primarily affecting children and pregnant women, in addition to a high prevalence of anemia. Furthermore, an increase in infectious diseases, such as Malaria and COVID-19, was observed, driven by territorial invasion and ecosystem changes. Conclusion: Illegal mining imposes a double burden of morbidity on indigenous populations, combining chronic and infectious diseases, while threatening food security and traditional ways of life. The findings reinforce the urgent need for public policies focused on rigorous inspection and the strengthening of primary healthcare for indigenous peoples.

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References

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Published

2026-06-01

How to Cite

Farias, G. C., Souza, L. G. C. de, Barbosa, M. V. L., Santos, M. V. dos, Souza, V. P. M. de, & Bezerra, V. da C. (2026). The impacts of mining on the health of indigenous peoples in the Amazon. Pará Research Medical Journal, 10. https://doi.org/10.5327/prmj.940

Issue

Vol. 10 (2026)

Section

Artigos de Revisão Integrativa