Método Allegra

This is an alternative, low-cost method for determining mercury levels in environmental samples. It was created to meet the need for continuous monitoring of mercury levels in fish, especially in areas with a high potential for pollution resulting from the indiscriminate use of mercury in artisanal gold mining.

The method is applicable to other environmentally relevant matrices, such as: urine, soil, sediments, mining waste, and effluents. The techniques are effective for

both preliminary diagnoses and screening tests.

The infrastructure is simple and easy for laboratory assistants to handle, as long as they are properly trained. It offers autonomous use of the process and only requires supervision by a regional laboratory technician. It is easy to operate as compared to the more sophisticated methods, the high costs of which make continuous monitoring unaffordable and inaccessible.