More than a decade after Brazil’s catastrophic Fundão dam collapse, scientists have uncovered troubling evidence that mining waste is still making its way into everyday foods. Credit: Shutterstock
Researchers in soil science, environmental engineering, and public health from the University of São Paulo (USP), the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES) in Brazil, and the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain investigated whether crops grown near the Doce River estuary are safe to eat. The area in Linhares, Espírito Santo, has been exposed to iron mining waste since the Fundão tailings dam collapsed in Minas Gerais in November 2015.
The team focused on bananas, cassava, and cocoa pulp cultivated in soil affected by the disaster. They examined levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead, metals linked to iron oxides, which are the primary component of the tailings. Their findings suggest that eating bananas grown in contaminated soil may present a potential health risk for children six years old and younger.
