Ellen Silbergeld
Mozambique
Bloomberg School of Public Health, PhD program The goal of my proposed project in Mozambique is to determine the prevalence of mercury exposures among women and children in the Manhica region, and secondarily to assess the sources of these exposures. Mozambique, after decades of civil war and foreign interference, is investing rapidly in public health and social welfare projects with the strong support of international donor agencies and development banks. There are many health risks in Mozambique, including malaria and HIV. A major industry is gold mining, much of which takes place in the Manhica region, close to Maputo, the capital of Mozambique. All gold mining in Mozambique is small scale and utilizes mercury for amalgamation purposes, which poses severe health risks for women, men, and children. I plan to work with my faculty advisor and three of her colleagues currently engaged in research in Manhica, who are developing a longitudinal study of pesticide exposures and the health status of mothers and children. Altogether, this is an unparalleled opportunity for me to learn the methods of ethnographic fieldwork in an international setting. The Manhica Health Research Center is carrying out several major studies that provide opportunities for me to achieve my goals. | 
