First assessment of atmospheric pollution by trace elements and particulate matter after a severe collapse of a tailings dam, Minas Gerais, Brazil: An insight into biomonitoring with Tillandsia usneoides and a public health dataset.

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Abstract

In this study, samples of bromeliad Tillandsia usneoides (n = 70) were transplanted and exposed for 15 and 45 days in 35 outdoor residential areas in Brumadinho (Minas Gerais state, Brazil) after one of the most severe mining dam collapses in the world. Trace elements aluminum (Al), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry. Scanning electron microscope generated surface images of T. usneoides fragments and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10 and PM > 10). Aluminum, Fe and Mn stood out from the other elements reflecting the regional geological background. Median concentrations in mg kg-1 increased (p < 0.05) between 15 and 45 days for Cr (0.75), Cu (1.23), Fe (474) and Mn (38.1), while Hg (0.18) was higher at 15 days. The exposed-to-control ratio revealed that As and Hg increased 18.1 and 9.4-fold, respectively, not showing a pattern associated only with the most impacted sites. The PM analysis points to a possible influence of the prevailing west wind on the increase of total particles, PM2.5 and PM10 in transplant sites located to the east. Brazilian public health dataset revealed increase in cases of some cardiovascular and respiratory diseases/symptoms in Brumadinho in the year of the dam collapse (1.38 cases per 1000 inhabitants), while Belo Horizonte capital and its metropolitan region recorded 0.97 and 0.37 cases, respectively. Although many studies have been carried out to assess the consequences of the tailings dam failure, until now atmospheric pollution had not yet been evaluated. Furthermore, based on our exploratory analysis of human health dataset, epidemiological studies are required to verify possible risk factors associated with the increase in hospital admissions in the study area.

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Environ Res

Title: Environmental research

Publisher: Elsevier BV

ISSN (Electronic): 1096-0953

ISSN (Print): 0013-9351

Publication date (Electronic): Sep 15 2023

Volume: 233

Affiliations

[1 ] Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Núcleo Prof. Rogério Vale de Produção Sustentável - SAGE/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Electronic address: cparente@biof.ufrj.br.

[2 ] Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Núcleo Prof. Rogério Vale de Produção Sustentável - SAGE/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[3 ] Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Geociências (Geoquímica), Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, Campus do Valonguinho, 24020-141, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

[4 ] Núcleo Prof. Rogério Vale de Produção Sustentável - SAGE/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[5 ] Laboratório de Toxicologia, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-598, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[6 ] Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-598, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[7 ] Instituto de Macromoléculas Professora Eloisa Mano, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-598, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Mecânica, Universidade Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, 20940-903, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[8 ] Núcleo Prof. Rogério Vale de Produção Sustentável - SAGE/COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-972, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

[9 ] Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

Article

Publisher Item ID: S0013-9351(23)01239-2

DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116435

PubMed ID: 37331556

SO-VID: 5cd3b773-156a-4ae6-acef-4e280dcbe399

History

Keywords: Mining impact,Heavy metal,Brumadinho,Atmospheric contamination,Spanish moss,Particulate matter

Data availability:

Keywords: Mining impact, Heavy metal, Brumadinho, Atmospheric contamination, Spanish moss, Particulate matter

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