Representações sociais da pesquisa do mercúrio em uma comunidade ribeirinha do Tapajós

Abstract

This study proposes to examine the social representations of the residents of a community on the banks of the Tapajós River in the city of Itaituba- Pará, how to research on mercury in that area conducted by various institutions. The theoretical approach was the procedural approach of social representations developed by Serge Moscovici. We sought to delineate the understandings of these residents through content analysis of Bardin, making an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to investigate the discourses of social actors. Graphs were prepared containing the percentages of these concepts to analyze the data more relevant. In the end, it was observed that the respondents are in favor of searches that take place there as an expectation of being discovered and met their needs, believing in the existence of mercury in the Tapajós River and the associated mining activity although we have identified speeches that confuse the metal with the planet Mercury or antiseptic. These perceptions are linked to their experiences and conversations of their peers and suggesting the need for a continuous information service, organized by the community and with the support of researchers for training and training of community leaders for advice, counseling and self-protection that community about the issue and the research of mercury.