POPs IN THE AMAZON: CONTAMINATION OF MAN AND THE ENVIRONMENT

The organochlorine insecticide DDT was extensively used in Brazil since 1945, both for agricultural purposes an d for vector control measures. In 1986 its uses were forbidden in agriculture and in 1997 it was phased-out also 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. The results gathered since the middle of the 90s indicate that the environmental contamination with this pesticide is still relatively high. Due to the high fish consumption by riverside traditional populations, the human breast milk may represent an important source of DDT exposure to newborns. New results on DDT and PCBs in the red dolphin (Inia geoffrensis), an endemic aquatic mammal of the Amazon region, is also reported. The Intoxication of the Amazon, Brazil’s University Actions and the IPCP initiative Our compromise is to provide reliable scientific information in order to subsidize the government with informatio n regarding the overall aspects of chemical pollution. The problem of pollution is often mistreated in developing countries because large parts of the population are not aware of the risks associated with the use of chemicals. Brazil’s Universities can deal with different aspects of pollution, especially in the Amazonian Terrestrial as well as Aquatic Environments. Estimation of heavy metal burdens and of the presence of different POPS (Persistent Organic Pollutants) in human beings and biotic and abiotic materials are important actions relative to two classes of substances whose measurements and related educative topics may exert influence on the future discussion of the IPCP initiative. Brazil stopped to use DDT against malaria and other disease vectors in 1997 1 . However, malaria cases are around 500.000 per year with 99% of cases in the Amazon Region. To face these problems we need to cooperate to combat the detrimental impact over the environmental health of past and present land uses in the last largest rainforest of the world. The importance of this endeavor is clear and we ought to struggle and help to change this situation, working together in a cooperative and friendly basis. There is need for modernization in several laboratories and acquisition of new equipment is a very important issue for Brazilian Laboratories (e.g.: GC-MS/MS and Isotopic Dilution Techniques). We will need resources to buy modern chromatographs and there is huge necessity to train skilled people in this machines operation. The exchange of people and researchers may help to diminish the effects of some of these problems. The most urgent needs are for funds for fellowships that must be supplied without to much paperwork, besides being able to buy new equipments. We think that we ought to invest in human resources formation and combat the brain drain. Taking this in account, we must to make easier for researchers of different parts of the world to maintain and cooperate with our Brazilian Institutions. Energy and Politic related issues related to Environmental Pollution i n the Near Future of the Amazon in Brazil (Dam the Rivers, Damn the People and the Environment) In July of 2007 the Brazilian Environmental Authorities, after a long and rat her confuse process, has decided to liberate the permission for the construction of two new Hydroelectric Power Plants in the Madeira River at Rondonia State 2 . The Madeira River is the main tributary of the Amazon River in its right margin and represents 15% of the water and 50% of the sediments that are discharged by the Amazon River at its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean. This new projects will generate together 6.450 MW of Electricity (8% of Brazil annual needs). These enterprises will be constructed over one of the oldest gold mining areas of the Brazilian Amazon where mercury was intensely used for decades. They also represent a threat against the reproductive migration of 40 species of giant catfishes. This energy will be used to expand the exploration of metallic ores of this state, especially for Sn enriched minerals.