Bananas Rio Doce Waste Risk Children Study
- Scientists linked to the University of São paulo (USP), the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes) and the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, have identified a...
- The Fundão dam collapse, one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazilian history, released a massive wave of mining waste into the Doce River, impacting communities and ecosystems...
- The study evaluated bananas, cassava, and cocoa pulp produced in areas that have been receiving this material for almost a decade.
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Health Risks Identified in Bananas Grown Near Doce river Estuary After 2015 Dam Collapse
Table of Contents
What Happened: The Doce River Disaster and its Aftermath
Scientists linked to the University of São paulo (USP), the Federal University of Espírito Santo (Ufes) and the University of Santiago de Compostela, in Spain, have identified a possible health risk for children up to six years old who consume bananas grown in soil contaminated by iron mining waste that reached the Doce river estuary, in Linhares (ES), after the collapse of the Fundão dam, in 2015. The results were published at the beginning of October in the scientific journal Environmental Geochemistry and Health and also on the website of Fapesp.
The Fundão dam collapse, one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazilian history, released a massive wave of mining waste into the Doce River, impacting communities and ecosystems for hundreds of kilometers. The waste contained high concentrations of heavy metals, including cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead.
The Study: Assessing Contamination in Local Produce
The study evaluated bananas, cassava, and cocoa pulp produced in areas that have been receiving this material for almost a decade. In the region’s soils, there are high concentrations of metals associated with the iron oxides that make up the waste. The research focused on determining the levels of these metals in the produce and assessing the potential health risks to consumers.
Key Findings: Bananas Pose the Greatest Risk
The main conclusion of the work is that, among all the foods evaluated, only banana presented a critically important risk for young children.although the so-called Total Risk Indices (IRTs) for most of the foods analyzed were below the risk level (less than 1), indicating that the consumption of foods grown in the Doce River estuary did not pose a significant threat to adults, the result for bananas in children exceeded threshold 1, suggesting potential health impacts.Adults, conversely, did not present a significant risk from consuming the region’s fruit.
Understanding the Risks: Lead and Cadmium Exposure
The primary risk factor was the higher concentration of lead present in the fruit,which also had a higher cadmium content than recommended by the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization). Prolonged