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Iron ore tailings as a source of nutrients to the coastal zone

2021; Elsevier BV; Volume: 171; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112725

1879-3363

Eduardo S. Costa, Renata Caiado Cagnin, César Alexandro da Silva, Cybelle Menolli Longhini, Fabian Sá, Ana T. Lima, Luiz Eduardo de Oliveira Gomes, Ângelo F. Bernardino, Renato Rodrigues Neto,

Mine drainage and remediation techniques

The Fundão dam rupture was one of the largest environmental disasters worldwide and released millions of m3 of iron ore tailings into the Doce River basin in southeastern Brazil. Here we assessed the supply of dissolved nutrients associated to tailings in the Doce River estuary and its adjacent coastal zone. First, we observed an acute increase in dissolved silicates (From 16.26 μM to 175.47 μM) and nitrate (From 5.56 μM to 50.69 μM) in the estuary when compared to days prior to the event. Coastal marine ecosystems showed significant concentrations of nitrite (From 0.72 μM to 2.99 μM) and phosphate (From 0.09 μM to 2.30 μM) one year after the disaster, which we attribute mainly to nutrient recycling. The chronic effects include an increase in nutrient load to the coastal zone with a predominance of nitrogenous species, which may increase the limitation of phosphorus and silica to marine primary production.