The impacts of mining on the food sovereignty and security of Indigenous Peoples and local communities: A global review.

Mineral extraction areas represent an environmental, social, and also a food sovereignty challenge for several countries. Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLC) are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of mining activities, particularly those that affect their lands and waters. At the global level, scientific evidence on the impacts of mining on the food sovereignty of IPLC is meagre, scattered, and fragmented across disciplines and geographic regions. This study aims to assess whether factors such as mining, trace elements contamination, social inequality, lack of environmental deficitary environmental policy and practice, and socio-environmental conflicts directly impact the food sovereignty of IPLC worldwide. Through a comprehensive literature review of 403 articles, we mapped globally the impacts of mining activities on the food sovereignty of IPLC. Our results reveal that the combination of mining, social inequality and weak environmental strategies impinge negatively on the food sovereignty of IPLC. A hundred and six articles reviewed contained a detailed ecotoxicological analysis of food resources used by IPLC in mining areas. Of all documented species, 52.9 % were vascular plants, 40.3 % were fish and 6.8 % were mammals, presenting substantial scientific evidence of the contamination of food systems of IPLC as a direct result of mining. Given the magnitude of the evidence presented in this review, we propose strategic policy actions to address the impacts of mining on IPLC food sovereignty, such as the strengthening of social, cultural, and environmental safeguards in the mining sector, which should include provisions for the protection of the food systems of IPLC and their culturally-valued food resources, as well as monitoring of contaminant concentrations in the environment and in culturally-valued food resources.

Ferns and lycophytes in coal mining waste and tailing landfills.

Mineral coal extraction in Santa Catarina State (Brazil) Carboniferous Basin has degraded the local ecosystem, restricting the use of its areas. One of the biggest environmental impacts in the mining areas is the uncontrolled disposal of waste and sterile mining with high concentrations of pyrite, which in the presence of air and water is oxidized promoting the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD). These contaminants can be leached into water resources, restrict the use of water and soil, and cause threats to fauna and flora. This study aimed to characterize these areas as to the content of Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn metals in the tailings and waste resulting from coal mining and to survey the species of ferns and lycophytes present. Wastes and tailing samples and specimens of ferns and lycophytes were collected in 23 landfills in six municipalities in the region and in four underlying areas used as controls. Chemical and physical analyses (pH in water and pH in KCl, Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Mn, Fe, Al, clay and OM contents) were carried out and the total contents of heavy metals Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn were determined. Sampling of ferns and lycophytes was carried out by walking. The levels of heavy metals, Cd, Ni and Zn, were below the prevention concentrations established by CONAMA Resolution 420/2009. Pb levels were above prevention values in four landfills. Sixteen species of ferns and one lycophyte were found, with hemicryptophytes the most frequent and helophytes the most adapted to the environment. Of the species found, Pteridium esculentum (G. Forst.) Cockayne, Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link and Telmatoblechnum serrulatum (Rich.) Perrie, DJ Ohlsen & Brownsey demonstrated resistance to degraded and contaminated environments with Pb, which may constitute an alternative for project monitoring and environmental recovery.

Invisible contaminants and food security in former coal mining areas of Santa Catarina, Southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Mining activities have environmental impacts due to sediment movement and contamination of areas and may also pose risks to people's food security. In Brazil, the majority of coal mining activities are in the south, in the Santa Catarina carboniferous region. In this region, previously mined areas contaminated with heavy metals frequently occur nearby inhabited zones. Mining is part of the daily lives of local communities, and its environmental impacts are visible in the landscape; however, plants with medicinal and food use from these areas can be still consumed. Heavy metals are contaminants that do not have odor, color, or taste, and are therefore difficult to detect. We aimed to verify whether people use plants from contaminated mine areas, and understand which factors can influence the use of these resources, even from areas visibly impacted. METHODS: We conducted 195 semi-structured interviews with residents from 14 areas nearby abandoned mines in the main municipalities of the Santa Catarina carboniferous region. We asked each interviewee about the length of time they lived in the region, their perception of the quality of the environment, and what plant species were used and for what purpose. We constructed generalized multivariate linear models to verify which variables can affect the group of species mentioned and generalized linear models to verify which variables can affect the total number of citations. We estimated the frequency of citing species collected using the Smith index. RESULTS: From all interviewees, 127 (65%) reported collecting plants for medicinal and food use, directly from contaminated mine areas. Long-term residents, as well as those who noticed more environmental changes (positive and negative), cited more plants used and had more detailed knowledge of plant use in their communities. When asked if they were aware of the possible contamination of mined areas, 85% said they knew about it. However, only 10% associated negative health effects with the use of plant species collected in contaminated mined areas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that people living nearby contaminated areas use and consume locally sourced plants, e.g., people know little about the danger of this contamination in their food and the risk of these contaminants to their health. These results also reveal a lack of information about contamination, as well as a lack of actions that include local communities in contaminated area restoration strategies. This situation poses a risk to the food security of the people living nearby former coal mining areas.

Potentially toxic metals of vegetable gardens of urban schools in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil / Metais potencialmentetóxicos em hortas escolares na região urbana de Lages, Santa Catarina, Brasil

ABSTRACT: Urban environments are contaminated in many ways with persistent organic and inorganic pollutants as a result of anthropogenic activities, endangering human health and natural resources. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the soil contamination by cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in 10 vegetable gardens of urban schools located near or on Botucatu sandstone outcrops of Guarani Aquifer in the urban areas of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil. In each garden, three soil samples at each position (in the soil immediately outside and the soil in the garden) were collected at a depth of 0-20 cm. The ISO 11466 method was used to extract the metals. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to quantify the elements and certified materials to evaluate the quantities (SRM 2709a - San Joaquin Soil - NIST). To evaluate the data, principal component analyses and cluster analyses were performed. The cluster analysis for the evaluated metals showed that the highest contents of elements were reported in three gardens. Values above the prevention value defined by resolution no. 420/2005 of the National Council for the Environment -Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) - were reported for cobalt in one garden and copper in three gardens; thus, these areas were categorized as Class III areas. Principal component analysis explained 74.7% of the data and showed the enrichment of some elements within gardens.

RESUMO: Ambientes urbanos são contaminados de muitas maneiras com poluentes orgânicos e inorgânicos persistentes como resultado de atividades antrópicas, colocando em risco a saúde humana e os recursos naturais. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a contaminação do solo por cobalto (Co), cromo (Cr), cobre (Cu), manganês (Mn), níquel (Ni), chumbo (Pb) e zinco (Zn) em 10 hortas de escolas urbanas situadas próximo ou sobre áreas de afloramento de arenito Botucatu do Aquífero Guarani, no município de Lages, Santa Catarina. Em cada horta, três amostras de solo foram coletadas (dentro e fora da horta) na profundidade de 0-20 cm. O método ISO 11466 foi usado para extrair os metais. Utilizou-se espectrometria de emissão óptica com plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP OES) para quantificar os elementos e materiais certificados (SRM 2709a - San Joaquin Soil - NIST). Para avaliar os dados foi feita a análise dos componentes principais e análise de agrupamento. Pela análise de agrupamento para os metais avaliados observou-se que as maiores concentrações de elementos foram encontradas em três hortas. Valores acima do valor de prevenção (PV) definido pela resolução no. 420/2005 do Conselho Nacional do Meio Ambiente (CONAMA) foram encontrados para Co em uma horta e Cu em três hortas, classificando essas áreas como classe III. A análise de componentes principais explicou 74,7% dos dados e mostrou o enriquecimento de alguns elementos dentro das hortas.

Monitoramento de água e sedimento no Rio Palmeiras, Bacia Hidrográfica do Tubarão (SC), Brasil / Water and sediment monitoring in a coal mining area of the Palmeiras River, Tubarão Watershed (SC), Brazil

RESUMO A mineração de carvão na Bacia Carbonífera Catarinense causa poluição dos recursos hídricos. O objetivo do estudo foi caracterizar a água e o sedimento do Rio Palmeiras, na Bacia Hidrográfica do Tubarão, pela quantificação de metais na água em espectrômetro de massa com fonte de plasma indutivamente acoplado (ICP-MS) e no sedimento em espectrometria de absorção atômica de alta resolução com fonte contínua (HR-CS AAS), e outras variáveis, relacionadas à mineração de carvão. Na água, ocorreu aumento das concentrações de Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, e Pb, e no sedimento, ocorreu a diminuição das concentrações de Al, Mn, Zn, Cu e Pb em função da mineração de carvão, propiciada pela solubilização devida ao baixo pH da água. Observaram-se correlações entre as concentrações dos metais na água, no sedimento e cruzadas entre os teores na água e no sedimento.

ABSTRACT The mining of coal in the Santa Catarina Carboniferous Basin cause pollution of water resources. The objective of this study was to characterize the water and sediment of the Palmeiras River, located in the Tubarão Watershed, through quantification of metals in the water in inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and sediment in high resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometry (HR-CS AAS), and other variables related to coal mining. The water had an increase in Ca, Mg, Fe, Al, Mn, Zn, and Pb concentrations, and the sediment had a reduction in Al, Mn, Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations because the coal mining, through solubilization due to the low pH of the water. Correlations between concentrations of metals in the water and between concentrations of metals in the sediment were found, as well as cross correlations between metal levels in the water and sediment.

Teor de arsênio e adsorção competitiva arsênio/fosfato e arsênio/sulfato em solos de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Arsenate content, and arsenate/phosphate and arsenate/sulphate competitive adsorption in soils from Minas Gerais, Brazil

A alta toxicidade de As para homens e animais gera a necessidade de estudos do comportamento químico do arsenato nos solos que possam auxiliar na mitigação de áreas contaminadas com arsênio. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar o teor total e a adsorção de As na ausência e presença dos ânions fosfato e sulfato em seis diferentes classes de solos do estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os solos alvo deste estudo são: o Neossolo Flúvico (RU), Gleissolo Háplico (GX), Gleissolo Melânico (GM), Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico (LVd), coletados em Lavras; Neossolo Quartzarênico (RQ), coletado em Itutinga e o Latossolo Amarelo Distrófico (LAd), coletado em Rosário, no estado de Minas Gerais. As amostras de solo foram secas, moídas e peneiradas em peneira de 2,0mm para execução do teste de adsorção e peneiradas em peneira plástica com malha de 1,5mm para determinação do teor de As, o qual foi determinado pelo método 3051A. A adsorção de As foi avaliada na dose de1500µmol L-1 de As, 1500µmol L-1 de As + 1500µmol L-1 de P e 1500µmol L-1 de As + 750µmolL-1 de S, em relação solo:solução final de 1:100, a pH 5,5 e força iônica de 15mmol L-1. Os seis solos apresentaram teor médio de As entre 0,14 e 9,3mgkg-1. A porcentagem adsorvida de arsênio na ausência dos outros ânions seguiu a sequência GM>LVd=RU=LAd=GX=RQ. A adição de fosfato e sulfato reduziu a porcentagem de arsênio adsorvido e, por consequência, houve um aumentou na concentração de arsênio disponível na solução do solo.

The high toxicity of arsenic to humans and animals creates the need to study the chemical behavior of arsenate in soils that can help in the mitigation of areas contaminated with arsenic. This work aimed to evaluate the total content and adsorption in the absence and presence of phosphate and sulfate anions in six different soil classes in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Soils aim of this study are: Fluvic Neosol (RU), Haplic Gleysol (GX), Melanic Gleysol (GM) and Typical Distrophic Red Latosol (LVd) collected in Lavras, MG; Quartzenic Neosol (RQ) collected in Itutinga, MG, and Typical Distrophic Yellow Latosol (Lad) collected in Rosário, MG. Soil samples were dried, ground and sieved through a sieve of 2mm for the test run of adsorption and sieved through a sieve with a mesh of plastic 1.5mm for the As determination. The As content was determined by the method 3051A. The rate 1500µmolL-1As, 1500µmol L-1 As + 1500µmol L-1 P, 1500µmol L-1 As + 750µmol L-1 As were used to evaluate As adsorption, soil solution rate of 1:100, pH 5,5 and ionic force of 15mmol.L-1. The mean As content in the six soils was between 0,14 and 9,3mgkg-1. The adsorpted percentage of As in absence of other anions followed the sequence GM>LVd=RU=LAd=GX=RQ. Phosphate and sulphate addition reduced the percentage of adsorpted arsenic, consequently there was an increase of disponible arsenic in the soil solution.

Fitorremediação de solos contaminados com arsênio (As) utilizando braquiária / Phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soils using Brachiaria grass

Conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de avaliar o potencial fitoextrator de arsênio (As) da Brachiaria decumbens Stapf., cultivada em casa de vegetação, utilizando-se seis solos: Latossolo Amarelo Distrófico (LAd), Latossolo Vermelho Distrófico (LVd), Neossolo Flúvico (RU), Neossolo Quartzarênico (RQ), Gleissolo Háplico (GX) e Gleissolo Melânico (GM). O As foi adicionado aos solos na forma de arsenato de sódio heptahidratado nas doses 0, 25, 50, 200 e 800 mg kg-1. As plantas foram coletadas 55 dias após a semeadura, separadas em parte aérea e raiz e, após secagem do material em estufa, o mesmo foi digerido segundo o método 3051 da USEPA, sendo o teor de As determinado por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica (EEA) com forno de grafite. Observou-se redução no desenvolvimento da braquiária de forma diferenciada nas seis classes de solo. Houve baixa translocação do As, da raiz para a parte aérea, sendo essa espécie considerada tolerante ao elemento e não hiperacumuladora, podendo ser utilizada em programas de revegetação de áreas contaminadas pelo elemento.

This work evaluated the phytoextraction potential of arsenic (As) by Brachiaria decumbens growing under greenhouse conditions in six soils: a Dystrophic Yellow Latosol (LAd), a Dystrophic Red Latosol (LVd), a Fluvic Neosol (RU), a Quartzenic Neosol (RQ), a Haplic Gleysol (GX), and a Melanic Gleysol (GM). Arsenic was added to the soils as sodium arsenate heptahydrate (Na2HAsO4.7H2O) at the following doses: 0, 25, 50, 200, and 800 mg kg-1. The plants were collected 55 days after planting for determination of shoot and root dry matter production. Arsenic shoot and root contents were evaluated after digestion according to the USEPA 3051A method, following analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy. Plant development was differently affected by As in the six different soil classes. There was low translocation of As and consequently most of the As was detected in the roots of Brachiaria decumbens. Therefore, this species could be considered tolerant but not an accumulator of arsenic, thus being indicated for revegetation programs in As-polluted soils and sediments.