Adjusting the Capital Index (ICS), to the Population of Santarém-Pa, It’s Capacity for Mobilization and Political Action the Environmental Exposure to Mercury

Until the mid-1980s, the scientific literature focused on the environmental issue, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon, attributed the mercurial contamination, the anthropic action, especially the mining activities. The region of Santarém, in the state of Pará, was chosen to conduct this research because it is at the center of the discursions of mercury contamination in the Amazon. The objective of this study is to analyze the perception of risk to mercury contamination in the population of Santarém, with the application of Integrated Questionnaires to Measure the Social Capital Index - QI-MCS proposed by the World Bank. The methodological procedures were based on the application of structured questionnaires in open and closed questions, through individual interviews, which addressed several aspects related to groups and networks; trust and solidarity; collective action and cooperation; information and communication; cohesion and social inclusion; authority or capacity building and political action; mercury contamination. In order to determine the ICS, variables that express interpersonal relationships among community members were considered as well as their participation in participatory and cooperative associations. It is concluded that the risk is underestimated by the local population, since it does not have enough information regarding the mercurial contamination and actions taken by the State to prevent this type of accident.