Soil-Plant Interaction as a Bioindicator of Environmental Quality in the Rio Doce Estuary following the Mariana Disaster

• Grant number: 24/21028-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences
• Principal Investigator: Renata Cristina Bovi
• Grantee: Breno Mauricio Borba Albertin
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas (FCA). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In November 2015, the rupture of the Fundão dam, owned by the mining company Samarco, released 60 million tons of waste rich in iron oxyhydroxides, which spread throughout the Rio Doce watershed, reaching the estuary in Vila de Regência, Espírito Santo. This contamination impacted soil quality, benthic assembly, and water quality, causing severe ecological and social damage. Studies indicated an increase in potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the estuary sediments, which can become bioavailable due to redox dynamics and the solubilization of iron oxyhydroxides. Estuarine vegetation plays a crucial role in the biogeochemistry of metals and can serve as biomonitors of environmental quality by accumulating PTE in their parts. This project proposes to investigate the accumulation of PTE in tree compartments (leaves, bark, fruits, branches, and roots) in the estuary of the Rio Doce, in areas affected and not affected by the waste, assessing the sensitivity of trees as environmental biomarkers. Additionally, the study aims to understand the interaction between the geosphere and biosphere, aiming to contribute to the development of sustainable geo-bioremediation technologies. This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those related to water, marine life, and terrestrial biodiversity, promoting sustainable management of natural resources and minimizing the environmental impacts caused by the dam disaster. (AU)