Redox fluctuations, iron and heavy metals dynamics in soils from Rio Doce estuary after the "Mariana (MG) disaster": an experimental approach

• Grant number: 19/02855-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: December 01, 2019
• End date: September 13, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Agronomy - Soil Science
• Principal Investigator: Tiago Osório Ferreira
• Grantee: Diego Barcellos
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In 2015, the Rio Doce (in southeaster Brazil) received approximately 60 million tons of mine residues from the failure of the Fundão mine tailing Dam (in Mariana, MG, Brasil) reaching the Rio Doce's estuary, in Linhares, ES, Brasil, one of the greatest environmental disasters worldwide. The mine tailings contain mostly iron oxides, which may change the oxidation state at the fluctuating redox conditions in the estuary of the Rio Doce. Heavy metals are bound to the surface and within the structure of these iron minerals and may become bioavailable because of reduction and re-precipitation of iron oxides, increasing the environmental and health risks at the estuary. We sought the hypothesis that larger amounts of heavy metals will be released during the reduction of iron minerals during sequential redox fluctuations, when compared to steady oxic (aerobic) or anoxic (anaerobic) conditions. To test this hypothesis, we will incubate soils over three redox treatments over 32 days, as follows: redox fluctuations (alternating sequentially over oxic and anoxic conditions every 4 days), constantly oxic for 32 days, and constantly anoxic for 32 days. We will monitor iron species (FeII e FeIII), iron mineralogy, the metals Cu, Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn, the emissions of the gases CO2, CH4, and N2O, and total and dissolved organic carbon, at the distinct redox treatments over the experiment. Thus, we will characterize and monitor the major actor for the release of heavy metals in that environment, the iron oxides, providing important mechanist understanding for the fate of the mine tailings at the Rio Doce estuary. Given the lack of information regarding metal's bioavailability and environmental risks, the results of this project will be fundamental for biogeochemical modeling of iron, metals and carbon, and to provide information for decision makers for mitigation and remediation assessments at the Rio Doce over short and long time spans. (AU)

Scientific publications

(13)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; ANTELO, JUAN; OTERO, XOSE L.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.. From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 278, n. 2, JAN 15 2021. (18/04259-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2, 19/19987-6)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; BRAGANTINI, ISADORA OKUMA BARBOSA FERRAZ; FANDINO, VERONICA ASENSIO; BERNARDINO, ANGELO FRAGA; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; GOMES, LUIZ EDUARDO DE OLIVEIRA; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO. Degraded mangroves as sources of trace elements to aquatic environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 181, p. 9-pg., 2022-06-13. (21/00221-3, 19/14800-5, 19/02855-0, 19/19987-6)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; YING, SAMANTHA C.; ABERNATHY, MACON; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; GABRIEL, FABRICIO A.; OTERO, XOSE L.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse. Environment International, v. 146, JAN 2021. (18/08408-2, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6, 19/17413-2, 19/02855-0)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; ANTELO, JUAN; OTERO, XOSE L.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.. From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils. Journal of Environmental Management, v. 278, p. 11-pg., 2021-01-15. (18/08408-2, 19/02855-0, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6)

BARCELLOS, DIEGO; QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; FERREIRA, AMANDA D.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; OTERO, XOSE L.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Short-term Fe reduction and metal dynamics in estuarine soils impacted by Fe-rich mine tailings. APPLIED GEOCHEMISTRY, v. 136, JAN 2022. (18/04259-2, 19/19987-6, 19/17413-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2, 19/14800-5)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO; KENJI TANIGUCHI, CARLOS ALBERTO; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; DO NASCIMENTO, JULIANA COSTA; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; OTERO, XOSE LUIS; ARTUR, ADRIANA GUIRADO. Nitrogen mineralization and eutrophication risks in mangroves receiving shrimp farming effluents. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 27, n. 28, p. 10-pg., 2020-06-24. (19/02855-0, 18/04259-2)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO; KENJI TANIGUCHI, CARLOS ALBERTO; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; DO NASCIMENTO, JULIANA COSTA; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; OTERO, XOSE LUIS; ARTUR, ADRIANA GUIRADO. Nitrogen mineralization and eutrophication risks in mangroves receiving shrimp farming effluents. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, v. 27, n. 28, SI, JUN 2020. (19/02855-0, 18/04259-2)

FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO; QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; DE SOUZA JUNIOR, VALDOMIRO S.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; OTERO, XOSE L.. itho-climatic characteristics and its control over mangrove soil geochemistry: A macro-scale approac. Science of The Total Environment, v. 811, MAR 10 2022. (21/00221-3, 19/14800-5, 19/02855-0, 19/19987-6)

CABRAL, RAIANA L.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; ROILOA, SERGIO R.; ZANDAVALLI, ROBERTA B.; OTERO, XOSE L.. How Do Plants and Climatic Conditions Control Soil Properties in Hypersaline Tidal Flats?. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL, v. 10, n. 21, NOV 2020. (19/02855-0)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO; ASENSIO FANDINO, VERONICA; BARBOSA FERRAZ BRAGANTINI, ISADORA OKUMA; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; DE OLIVEIRA GOMES, LUIZ EDUARDO; BERNARDINO, ANGELO FRAGA. Changes in soil iron biogeochemistry in response to mangrove dieback. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, v. 158, n. 3, p. 16-pg., 2022-02-11. (19/14800-5, 19/02855-0, 18/04259-2, 19/19987-6)

QUEIROZ, HERMANO M.; YING, SAMANTHA C.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL N.; OTERO, XOSE L.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.. Role of Fe dynamic in release of metals at Rio Doce estuary: Unfolding of a mining disaster. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 166, MAY 2021. (19/17413-2, 19/19987-6, 18/04259-2, 19/02855-0, 18/08408-2)

BARCELLOS, DIEGO; JENSEN, SEBASTIAN S. K.; BERNARDINO, ANGELO F.; GABRIEL, FABRICIO A.; FERREIRA, TIAGO O.; QUINTANA, CINTIA O.. Benthic bioturbation: A canary in the mine for the retention and release of metals from estuarine sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 172, NOV 2021. (19/02855-0, 19/19987-6, 18/08408-2)

FERREIRA, TIAGO OSORIO; NOBREGA, GABRIEL NUTO; QUEIROZ, HERMANO MELO; DE SOUZA JUNIOR, VALDOMIRO S.; BARCELLOS, DIEGO; FERREIRA, AMANDA DUIM; OTERO, XOSE L.. Windsock behavior: climatic control on iron biogeochemistry in tropical mangroves. BIOGEOCHEMISTRY, v. 156, n. 3, OCT 2021. (18/04259-2, 19/14800-5, 19/19987-6, 19/02855-0)