On 25 January 2019, Córrego do Feijão's tailing dam at Brumadinho city (Minas Gerais, Brazil) breached, leaving over 250 people dead. At least 12 million cubic meters of ore tailing were spread into ...Paraopeba River and the surrounding area. To evaluate the short-term impacts of the Brumadinho dam rupture on the environment, we performed biogeochemical, microbiological and ecotoxicological analyses across 464 km of the Paraopeba River in the week following the disaster (1 February 2019) and four months latter (27–29 May 2019). Immediately after the disaster, the water turbidity was 3000 NTU, 30 times greater than the standard recommended by the Brazilian Resolution for Water Quality (CONAMA 357). Up to a 60-fold increase in iron tolerant microbial colony forming unities was observed up to 115 km downstream of the dam failure in May 2019 (compared with February 2019), suggesting changes in microbial metabolic profiles. In the second sampling (May 2019), the ecotoxicological analyses indicate higher zebrafish embryo mortality (up to ~85% embryo mortality) rates in Retiro Baixo (304 km from dam failure location). However, increased zebrafish mortality in Retiro Baixo and Três Marias reservoirs may not be related exclusively to the dam failure. The causal nexus of mortality may be associated with other factors (e.g. local sewage pollution). Our study suggests that independent monitoring programs are needed to quantify the extent of potential impacts caused by the anthropogenic use of the river and to promote the recovery of the impacted area.
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•At least 12 million m3 of ore tailing were spread into Paraopeba River.•High water turbidity, metal and nutrient levels were found after the disaster.•Increase Iron in Angueretá, 242 km downstream from the Brumadinho dam failure•Increase in iron tolerant bacteria in May 2019•High zebrafish embryo mortality (up to 75%) in May 2019
The rupture of the Brumadinho mining tailings dam in Brazil is considered one of the largest mining disasters in the world, resulting in 244 deaths and 26 missing people, in addition to the ...environmental consequences. The present study aims to evaluate the concentrations of multiple elements and the biological effects on water and sediments of the Paraopeba River after the Brumadinho Dam rupture. The tailings are formed by fine particulate material with large amounts of Fe, Al, Mn, Ti, rare earth metals and toxic metals. In the water, the levels of Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and U were higher than those allowed by Brazilian legislation. In the sediments, Cr, Ni, Cu and Cd levels were higher than the established sediment quality guidelines (TEL-NOAA). The differences in metal concentrations in the water and sediments between the upstream and downstream sides of the dam illustrate the effect of the tailings in the Paraopeba River. Toxicological tests demonstrated that the water and sediments were toxic to different trophic levels, from algae to microcrustaceans and fish. The fish exposed to water and sediments containing mine ore also accumulated metals in muscle tissue. This evaluation emphasizes the necessity of long-term monitoring in the affected area.
Mangroves are productive ecosystems that are highly threatened by anthropogenic activities. We investigated the environmental quality of the Serinhaém river estuary located in a legally protected ...area. Through chemical analysis of sediments and tissues of Cardisoma guanhumi, in addition to bioassays with elutriate involving Nitokra sp. and Thalassiosira pseudonana, we determined the contamination status and risk factors related to trace metals in the estuary. For the sediment, the concentrations of Cr and Ni were above the limit established by CONAMA n° 454/2012 in the “City” site, and Cr above the TEL in all sampling sites. Ecotoxicological tests showed high toxicity in samples from “City” and “Tributary”. The elements Cr, Mn, Ni and Zn were also higher in crabs from these sites. Cr levels exceeded the Brazilian limit for food consumption. The bioaccumulation factor was not significant. However, the overall analysis proved that this estuary is increasingly impacted by anthropogenic pressure.
•The estuary is located in a protected area that was hit by the biggest oil spill accident in the history of Brazil.•The Cr contents were above the TEL for all sample points, indicating a moderate contamination in the sediment.•The bioassay with elutriate showed high toxicity with growth inhibition of Thalassiosira pseudonana.•There was less Nitokra sp spawning after exposure to elutriate from the point close to the urban area.•The Cr content in tissues of Cardisoma guanhumi is above that established for human consumption by Brazilian legislation.
Lead (Pb) is a chemical element with extreme toxicity that is classified as one of the ten chemicals of most significant concern to human health. The main problem involving Pb is its use as a fuel ...additive (tetraethyllead - TEL) at a global level, which raised the atmospheric Pb concentrations. It is estimated that between 80 and 90% of the atmospheric Pb in large cities came from the use of TEL, and as a consequence, it was also the main source responsible for human exposure to the element. Therefore, this work aimed to evaluate, through a systematic review, the blood concentrations of Pb in scientific articles published in the first two decades of the 2000s to compare the global and regional trends of each continent over time. Our data show the importance of removing TEL in decreasing human exposure to Pb worldwide. We observed exponentially decreasing blood Pb concentrations over the years after additive removal on all continents, resulting in a global trend which TEL's use was the major process governing human exposure worldwide. In addition, the results also showed that, despite the removal of Pb additives lowering levels of human blood Pb, the general population remains exposed to the element through exogenous and endogenous sources. The exhaust Pb particles were deposited into the environment in proportion to the traffic flows, and the legacy of Pb in the environment requires novel primary prevention remedy to curtail exposure.
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•Blood lead concentrations decreased exponentially in the last decades worldwide.•Tetraethyllead was the major driving force governing Pb exposure.•The general population remains exposed in part as a legacy of leaded gasoline.•This study emphasizes the importance of primary prevention for decreasing exposure.
The rupture of Fundão Dam is considered one of the largest environmental disasters in Brazilian history and one of the largest in the world involving tailings dams. The present study analyzed the ...changes in metal concentrations in the dissolved, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and sediment in the period just after (15 days) and six months after the dam rupture, together with the biological and cytogenotoxic effects, from the collapse site until the Doce River mouth in the Atlantic Ocean. After the dam rupture, the tailings were mainly transported as SPM. After six months, with the deposition, there was a decrease in metal concentrations in dissolved and SPM and increased levels were observed in the sediment. Cr, Ni, Cd and Hg levels in sediment were higher than the threshold effects level (TEL/NOAA), especially six months after the dam rupture. The water induced immediate negative biological effects at different levels of the trophic chain, together with Al, Fe, Mn and Zn accumulation in fish muscle. Both water and sediment also showed cytotoxic, genotoxic and mutagenic effects. These data demonstrate the importance of long-term monitoring with abiotic and biotic parameters to clarify the impacts of mining tailings and can help to direct future monitoring programs.
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•The Fundão dam failure is one of the largest environmental disasters in the world.•Immediately the tailings were mainly transported as suspended particulate matter.•After 6 months, with the deposition, the metal levels increased in the sediment.•Water and sediment induced negative biological and toxicogenetic effects.•This joint of abiotic and biotic indicators can direct other monitoring programs.
The present study evaluated the toxicogenetic potential of the water and sediment from Paraopeba River, five days after the rupture of the mining tailings dam at Brumadinho (Minas Gerais, Brazil), on ...January 2019, by Allium cepa test. Water samples collected at sites closest to the collapsed dam caused a higher frequency of genetic damage and lower cell division rate compared to the upstream site. In sediment it was observed a decrease in the cell division rate and genetic damage in the sampling sites closest to the dam. The frequency of aberrations and the mitotic index in A. cepa cells exposed to sediments were negatively associated with the levels of most elements in total and bioavailable fractions. A negative association between some metal concentrations in total and dissolved water with the mitotic index was also observed. Otherwise, the genotoxic effects were positively correlated with the concentrations of most metals. The results demonstrate the potential of the tailings to cause cytogenotoxic effects due the higher metal concentrations released in water column and in sediments. This is the first report highlighting the toxicogenetic potential of the released tailings and reinforce the need for a long-term monitoring of the watershed due the advance of the tailings plume through Paraopeba River over time.
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•After dam rupture, 12 million m3 of mining tailings reached the Paraopeba River.•Water and sediment from river promoted genotoxic effects in Allium cepa.•Cytogenotoxicity was inversely associated with the metals in sediment.•Genotoxic effects were positively associated with toxic metals in water.•Genotoxicity in sites yet not reached by tailing indicates previous contamination.
The Fundão Dam rupture released tons of iron ore tailings into the environment. This study analyzes the long-term impacts and provides a possible scenario of Doce River (DR) plume dispersion. For ...this, water and surface sediment were collected in November 2019 along three Brazilian states to determine metal concentrations and δ13C and δ15N compositions. The δ13Csediment values of the DR plume showed a dispersion pattern mainly to the north but also in areas closer to the south of the DR mouth. Furthermore, the most negative values of δ13C and δ15N were observed in mud, followed by suspended particulate matter, sediment and the dissolved fraction, indicating that geological matrices are involved in the transport of organic matter coupled to metals to the ocean and pointing to the DR as the main source of metals in the region. Thus, this study highlights the need for continuous studies to monitor the environmental and biological conditions in these areas.
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•Doce river was affected by the dam failure 4 years ago.•The material transport continues to occur by sediment, SPM and dissolved fraction.•There is still metals enrichment from Doce River to the coastal areas.•The dispersion pattern of the Doce river plumes was from the mouth towards the north.•This data contributes to the monitoring of the Doce river and nearby regions.
In this present paper, the distribution of toxic metals and sediment quality were evaluated in five sampling points of the Itapicuru-Mirim River located in the city of Jacobina, Bahia, Brazil. The ...concentration of the elements arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were determined from sediment samples collected from the superficial layer (0–10 cm) in November 2013. After the samples' total decomposition, the total concentration of metals was determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES), except for Hg, which was measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP AES). A geochemical evaluation of sediment quality was performed using enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), and pollution load index (PLIThe results of the total concentrations in the analyzed sediment samples were compared with the threshold effect levels (TELs) and probable (PELs) effect levels (PELs) in sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). For the fraction <75 μm, the decreasing order for the metal concentrations was (ppm): Fe (10.86%) > Mn (120.8) > Cr (122) > Zn (76.5) > Pb (49.6) > Cu (32.6) > Ni (28.6) > Hg (0.31) > Cd (0.13). Igeo suggested a moderate to seriously polluted category for Hg and moderately polluted for Cu. Generally, the results indicated probable risks to the biota caused by Cr, Ni, Pb, and Hg metals. However, only Hg, Cd, and Cu were of anthropogenic origin. Although the sediments are relatively preserved from pollution by these metals, there is a progressive deterioration of this compartment downstream of the Itapicuru-Mirim River in the city of Jacobina.
•Distribution of toxic metals and sediment quality in samples of superficial sediment from the Itapicuru-Mirim River.•Indicated probable risks to the biota caused by Cr, Ni, Pb, and Hg metals.•Heavy metals in surface sediments were mainly related to the contribution of anthropogenic activities.•Progressive deterioration of the sediment downstream of the Itapicuru-Mirim River in the Jacobina city.
In this study, we measured Ni, Co, Cd, and Pb concentrations in the whole blood of farmers from southeast Brazil to address the factors influencing human exposure in this population. The factors ...included smoking, alcohol consumption, aging, body composition, gender, and feeding preferences, which were measured through carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition. We also calculated and compared the reference values (RVs) of the measured elements to evaluate ongoing exposure levels. We observed the influence of lifestyle habits on metal exposure; Cd levels were statistically higher in smokers, and alcohol consumption affected only Pb concentrations, with an association also observed with the frequency of alcohol ingestion. The metal levels were positively associated with both isotope values, indicating that feeding may be the dominant source of these elements in this population. We also observed the effect of endogenous sources measured through age, as increased Pb concentrations in both genders and higher Cd levels in older women, which is related to bone, kidney, and liver accumulation. The body mass index was negatively associated with Ni, Co, and Cd in women and positively in men. The negative associations may indicate that body fat may act as a reservoir for metals, reducing their availability in the blood in individuals with higher body mass and possibly influencing the assessment of exposure levels. The evaluated population presented elevated RVs for all elements: Ni 36, Co 3.3, Cd 16, and Pb 149 μg L−1. These values point to higher exposure in this population compared to other studies in Brazil and worldwide. These results emphasize an urgent need for monitoring programs for toxic substances in Brazil and evaluating possible health effects, given the ongoing environmental exposure associated with endogenous exposure and lifestyle habits that promote higher metal levels in this population.
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•Brazilian farms present elevated blood metal concentrations.•Lifestyle habits and exogenous/endogenous sources contribute to increased levels.•Blood C and N isotopes reflect metal levels, indicating the effect of feeding.•There is an urgent need to monitor toxic substances in Brazil.
Cadmium (Cd) induces several effects in different tissues, but our knowledge of the toxic effects on organelles is insufficient. To observe the progression of Cd effects on organelle structure and ...function, HuH-7 cells (human hepatic carcinoma cell line) were exposed to CdCl2 in increasing concentrations (1 μM – 20 μM) and exposure times (2 h – 24 h). During Cd treatment, the cells exhibited a progressive decrease in viability that was both time- and dose-dependent. Cd treated cells displayed progressive morphological changes that included cytoplasm retraction and nuclear condensation preceding a total loss of cell adhesion. Treatment with 10 μM for 12 h led to irreversible damages. Before these drastic and irreparable damages, treated cells (5 μM for 12 h) presented a progressive loss of mitochondrial function and cytoplasm acidifi cation as well as dysfunction and disorganization of microfi laments and endoplasmic reticulum. These damages led to the induction of apoptotic events and an increase in autophagic bodies in the cytoplasm. These results revealed that Cd affects multiple intra-cellular targets that induce alterations in the mitochondria, cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum and acidic compartments, ultimately culminating in cell death via apoptotic and autophagic pathways.
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