Geological and biological characterization of contaminated soil - Ribeiro Valley

• Grant number: 13/04173-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2013
• End date: May 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Environmental Sanitation
• Principal Investigator: Valéria Guimarães Silvestre Rodrigues
• Grantee: Jacqueline Zanin Lima
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Ribeira Valley region was the scene of intense mining activity, nine mines have been exploited, whose main focus of interest was to obtain Pb, alternatively, Ag and Zn. Mining waste (enriched in As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr, and Zn) was deposited in the form of pile directly on the ground without any prior treatment for about 4 years (1991-1995). In this context, this project aims to characterize the soil, to determine, from the geological and biological properties, if this soil is retaining or not the potentially toxic metals contained in such waste. (AU)