Agricultural use of Samarco's spilled mud assessed by rice cultivation: A promising residue use?

Author(s)

Andrade, Geyssa Ferreira ^[1] ; Paniz, Fernanda Polio ^[1] ; Martins, Jr., Airton Cunha ^[2] ; Rocha, Bruno Alves ^[2] ; da Silva Lobato, Allan Klynger ^[3] ; Rodrigues, Jairo Lisboa ^[4] ; Cardoso-Gustayson, Poliana ^[1] ; Masuda, Hana Paula ^[1] ; Batista, Bruno Lemos ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Rua Santa Adelia 166, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Fed Rural Amazonia, Nucleo Pesquisa Vegetal Basica & Aplicada, Rodovia 256, Paragominas, Para - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Vales Jequitinhonha & Mucuri, Inst Ciencia Engn & Tecnol, BR-39803371 Teofilo Otoni, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Chemosphere; v. 193, p. 892-902, FEB 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Mining activity is one of the main responsible for accumulation of potentially toxic elements in the environment. These contaminants are absorbed by plants served as food that could be a risk to human health, such rice. Rice is a staple food with known accumulation of toxic elements. The recent collapse of a mining dam operated by Samarco Mining Company spilled around 50 million m(3) of Fe-mining waste in the environment, including rivers and farming areas. In the present study, concentrations of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Co, Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Al, Se, and Sr were determined in soils, roots and grains of rice plants cultivated in soil containing Samarco's residual mud (0, 16, 34 and 50%). Further, rice plant agronomic parameters (chlorophyll, carotenoids, grain yield, mass, height) were assessed. Rice cultivated at Samarco's residual mud produced grains with low levels of As, Cd and Pb. However, the excess of mud (50%) during the rice cultivation reduced roots' growth and grains yield. Chlorophyll (a and b) and carotenoids contents were significantly lower in all mud cultivations, mainly mud-50%. Our findings suggest that plant alterations induced by the mud were associated to the deficiency of nutrients and the physical properties of the mud. Soil fertilization by organic matter and top soil provided conditions for plant development. Therefore, considering the experimental conditions here used, we showed that is possible the use of the affected land for agriculture and reforestation after soil amendment. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/05151-0 - Arsenic and rice: monitoring and (bio)remediation studies for food safety
• Grantee: Bruno Lemos Batista
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants