Post-catastrophe Analysis of the Fundão Tailings Dam Failure in the Doce River System, Southeast Brazil: Potentially Toxic Elements in Affected Soils

The work presents the results of studying the content of potentially toxic elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Ni and Cd) in bottom sediments sampled at monitoring stations in the natural-anthropogenic systems of the Lower Don adjacent to the impact zone of the Novocherkassk Power Plant. The relationship between the content of metals in bottom sediments and their sorption properties is largely determined by the conditions of formation and the type of bottom sediments. Evaluation of the potentially toxic element content in sediments indicated that in particle size fractions (≤ 0.001 mm) could accumulate more than 15 times the levels of Cr and Zn and more than 6 times the levels of Cu, Cd and Ni in comparison to the particle size fractions that are 1.0 mm. Local zones of polyelemental pollution of bottom sediments with respect to Cu, Zn, Pb Cd and Cr were determined. These zones are confined to the geochemical sorption barriers of small watercourses of the power plant.

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Dam failure and mammals

Brazilian Journal of Mammalogy ◽

10.32673/bjm.vi90.48 ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Gisela Sobral ◽

Gabby Guilhon ◽

Filipe Gudinho ◽

Salvatore Siciliano ◽

Lisieux Fuzessy

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Literature Review ◽

Atlantic Forest ◽

Dam Failure ◽

Tailings Dam ◽

Environmental Rehabilitation ◽

Conservation Condition ◽

Iron Mining ◽

Doce River ◽

Brazilian Biodiversity

Brazil experienced the largest socioenvironmental catastrophe of its history, caused by a tailings dam failure, known as “Mariana disaster”. The wave of iron-mining waste buried villages, contaminated the Doce River, and left an immense ocean plume. The Doce River watershed is the largest in southeast Brazil, and located in the Atlantic Forest domain, presenting an outstanding economic, social, and biological relevance. Although the effects of such tragic events are usually assessed through fish assemblage changes, mammals have important effects on environment structure and regeneration. Inventories are of prime importance for adequate conservation efforts as well as for evaluating impacts of any disaster. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to present an updated assessment of mammalian list collected in the affected portion of Doce River before the dam failure therefore contributing to future conservation efforts. Data collection comprised specimens deposited in Museu Nacional/UFRJ, the oldest mammal collection of Brazil, and literature review. The two surveys together retrieved 157 species from 31 families and 11 orders, representing around 60% of the known mammalian diversity in the Atlantic Forest, including some in critical conservation condition, such as the Franciscana dolphin, the northern muriqui and the giant otter. Mining is a byproduct of present society, with dam breaches as a recurring problem. Facing the importance of Doce River to both Brazilian biodiversity and society, the chain of events must be taken into account in environmental rehabilitation strategies, and taxa less commonly assessed, like mammals, should be included.

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Key objects of potentially toxic elements impact of hydrocarbons on the environment

Environmental Protection in Oil and Gas Complex ◽

10.33285/2411-7013-2020-6(297)-47-54 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 47-54

Author(s):

S.P. Yakutseni ◽

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements

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POLYGON WALL BOUNDARY MODEL IN PARTICLE-BASED METHOD: APPLICATION TO BRUMADINHO TAILINGS DAM FAILURE

10.26678/abcm.cobem2019.cob2019-1869 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Rubens Augusto Amaro Junior ◽

Lucas Soares Pereira ◽

Liang-Yee Cheng ◽

Ahmad Shakibaeinia

Keyword(s):

Dam Failure ◽

Tailings Dam ◽

Wall Boundary ◽

Boundary Model ◽

Polygon Wall Boundary Model

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Current Status and Temporal Trend of Potentially Toxic Elements Pollution in Agricultural Soil in the Yangtze River Delta Region: A Meta-Analysis

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031033 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1033

Author(s):

Shufeng She ◽

Bifeng Hu ◽

Xianglin Zhang ◽

Shuai Shao ◽

Yefeng Jiang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Yangtze River ◽

Agricultural Soil ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Temporal Trend ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Yangtze River Delta ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

River Delta ◽

The Yangtze River ◽

The Yangtze River Delta

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution in the agricultural soil of China, especially in developed regions such as the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) in eastern China, has received increasing attention. However, there are few studies on the long-term assessment of soil pollution by PTEs over large regions. Therefore, in this study, a meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the current state and temporal trend of PTEs pollution in the agricultural land of the Yangtze River Delta. Based on a review of 118 studies published between 1993 and 2020, the average concentrations of Cd, Hg, As, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, and Ni were found to be 0.25 mg kg−1, 0.14 mg kg−1, 8.14 mg kg−1, 32.32 mg kg−1, 68.84 mg kg−1, 32.58 mg kg−1, 92.35 mg kg−1, and 29.30 mg kg−1, respectively. Among these elements, only Cd and Hg showed significant accumulation compared with their background values. The eastern Yangtze River Delta showed a relatively high ecological risk due to intensive industrial activities. The contents of Cd, Pb, and Zn in soil showed an increasing trend from 1993 to 2000 and then showed a decreasing trend. The results obtained from this study will provide guidance for the prevention and control of soil pollution in the Yangtze River Delta.

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