Fiocruz detects high presence of metals, respiratory and mental illnesses in Brumadinho residents

On the eve of the three-and-a-half year mark of the Vale dam failure in Brumadinho (MG), a study carried out by Fiocruz (Fundação Oswaldo Cruz) and UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) shows that the population of the municipality has levels of of metals in the body above the tolerable levels and suffers from respiratory and mental illnesses.

The miner’s Córrego do Feijão dam failed on January 25, 2019, killing 270 people. Four have not yet been located by the Fire Department, which is continuing to search the area affected by the iron ore tailings that came down from the dam. The last identification of victims took place a month ago, on June 7.

The study by Fiocruz and UFRJ analyzed blood and urine tests of residents of all age groups and regions of the city. In all, 3,297 people had samples observed, of which 217 are children, 275 are adolescents between 12 and 17 years old, and 2,805 are adults over 18 years old. The survey began in July last year.

Among adolescents, 52.3% have high levels of manganese in their blood. Another 12.2% were diagnosed with lead elevation. There was also an indication of more arsenic than recommended in the urine of 28.9% of adolescents.

In excess, the three metals can cause serious damage to health. Manganese is linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease. Lead causes anorexia and mental disorders. Arsenic can cause cancer and skin diseases.

In adults, 33.7% are high in arsenic and 37% in manganese. In relation to children, the results showed that, in a total of 172 samples considered valid, the presence of at least one of the metals was detected in all of them.

The study also indicated problems with the breathing of the city’s population. Among adolescents, when asked if they had received a medical diagnosis of chronic diseases, 12.3% said yes for asthma or asthmatic bronchitis.

The percentage, however, rises in relation to adolescents living in the two communities directly affected by the mud. Parque da Cachoeira, where 23.8% were diagnosed with one of the two diseases, and Córrego do Feijão, with 17.1% of adolescents suffering from one of the two ailments.

“The results on the medical diagnosis of chronic diseases, as well as on signs and symptoms, demonstrate a high burden of these conditions for the population of Brumadinho, which may reflect on the demand for health services”, says the researcher at Fiocruz Minas, Sérgio Peixoto, research coordinator.

Regarding the mental health of the residents of the municipality, 22.5% of the adults surveyed responded that they had been diagnosed with depression, more than twice as much as the 10.2% of the Brazilian population, according to the 2019 PNS (National Health Survey), as per data cited by Fiocruz.

The diagnosis of anxiety or sleep problems was reported by 33.4% of respondents over 18 years of age. Among adolescents, 10.4% reported a diagnosis of depression and 20.1% of anxiety.

Fiocruz’s study with UFRJ was the first of a series that provides for the release of new surveys later this year and in 2023 and 2024.

Sought by the report, Vale said that it did not have access to the study and that it will analyze the data as soon as this occurs. The mining company also says that there is no record in the local communities of cases of poisoning by heavy metals due to the dam rupture.

“It is also important to note that iron ore tailings are mostly made up of ferrous minerals and quartz, and are classified as non-toxic and therefore non-hazardous, according to NBR [norma brasileira] 10,004, of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards”, says Vale, in a note.

The company also stated that it monitors levels of suspended particulate matter in the impacted communities of Brumadinho and that, so far, the results of the follow-ups present adequate levels for the health of the population.