From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils

Queiroz, Hermano Melo; Ferreira, Tiago Osório; Barcellos, Diego; Nóbrega, Gabriel Nuto; Antelo, Juan; Otero, Xosé Luís; Bernardino, Ângelo F.

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111575

Cited by 37 publications

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“…In addition to the high content of Mn (644 ± 241 mg kg −1 ) in the original tailings from inside the dam ( Fig. 3 ), agricultural activities and pollution from large cities and villages along the basin may have acted as additional Mn sources to the mine tailings transported in the Rio Doce river on its way to the estuary ( Queiroz et al, 2021 ). In the past, studies prior to the Mariana disaster also reported Mn contents ranging from 660 to 2,280 mg kg −1 in mine tailings from Samarco’s dams located in the same mining complex as Fundão dam ( Pereira et al, 2008 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In 2015, a large-scale mine tailings dam disaster occurred in Brazil releasing 43 million m 3 of Fe-rich tailings into the Rio Doce, one of the country’s largest river basins. The tailings were transported approximately 600 km downstream and reached the estuary and the ocean 16 d after the dam collapse (de Gomes et al, 2017 ; Queiroz et al, 2021 ). The disaster represents one of the largest failures of a tailings dam ever recorded and the largest environmental disaster in Brazil’s mining history ( Carmo et al, 2017 ), also killing 19 people and causing extensive ecological (e.g., soil and water pollution; Bernardino et al, 2019 ; Gabriel et al, 2020b ; Queiroz et al, 2018 ), economic, social and cultural damages ( Fernandes et al, 2016 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse

Queiroz

Ying

Abernathy

et al. 2021

Environment International

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Manganese (Mn) is an abundant element in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems and an essential micronutrient in the metabolic processes of plants and animals. Mn is generally not considered a potentially toxic element due to its low content in both soil and water. However, in coastal ecosystems, the Mn dynamic (commonly associated with the Fe cycle) is mostly controlled by redox processes. Here, we assessed the potential contamination of the Rio Doce estuary (SE Brazil) by Mn after the world’s largest mine tailings dam collapse, potentially resulting in chronic exposure to local wildlife and humans. Estuarine soils, water, and fish were collected and analyzed seven days after the arrival of the tailings in 2015 and again two years after the dam collapse in 2017. Using a suite of solid-phase analyses including X-ray absorption spectroscopy and sequential extractions, our results indicated that a large quantity of Mn II arrived in the estuary in 2015 bound to Fe oxyhydroxides. Over time, dissolved Mn and Fe were released from soils when Fe III oxyhydroxides underwent reductive dissolution. Due to seasonal redox oscillations, both Fe and Mn were then re-oxidized to Fe III , Mn III , and Mn IV and re-precipitated as poorly crystalline Fe oxyhydroxides and poorly crystalline Mn oxides. In 2017, redox conditions (Eh: −47 ± 83 mV; pH: 6.7 ± 0.5) favorable to both Fe and Mn reduction led to an increase (~880%) of dissolved Mn (average for 2015: 66 ± 130 μg L −1 ; 2017: 582 ± 626 μg L −1 ) in water and a decrease (~75%, 2015: 547 ± 498 mg kg −1 ; 2017: 135 ± 80 mg kg −1 ) in the total Mn content in soils. The crystalline Fe oxyhydroxides content significantly decreased while the fraction of poorly ordered Fe oxides increased in the soils limiting the role of Fe in Mn retention. The high concentration of dissolved Mn found within the estuary two years after the arrival of mine tailings indicates a possible chronic contamination scenario, which is supported by the high levels of Mn in two species of fish living in the estuary. Our work suggests a high risk to estuarine biota and human health due to the rapid Fe and Mn biogeochemical dynamic within the impacted estuary.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse

Queiroz

Ying

Abernathy

et al. 2021

Environment International

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“…Samples of mine tailings deposited at the Doce River estuary were stored at approximately 4 • C in a laboratory to prevent chemical and biological alterations [18]. During the sampling procedure, redox potential (Eh) and pH values were determined using a platinum electrode and a previously calibrated glass electrode, respectively.…”

Section: Characterization Of Mine Tailings and Amendmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the Mariana disaster, a huge amount of Fe-rich mining tailings entered the Doce River estuary increasing the trace metal content in the soil [14]. Furthermore, the biogeochemical conditions of the estuarine soils have since shown an increase in trace metal bioavailability due to the dissimilatory Fe reduction process [14,16,18]. Additionally, due to geomorphological conditions, the Doce River estuary presents some unique characteristics such as low levels of seawater intrusion and salinity, which reduce the occurrence of sulfate reduction and increase the contamination risks [14,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse

et al. 2021

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Mine tailings containing trace metals arrived at the Doce River estuary, after the world’s largest mine tailings disaster (the Mariana disaster) dumped approximately 50 million m3 of Fe-rich tailings into the Doce River Basin. The metals in the tailings are of concern because they present a bioavailability risk in the estuary as well as chronic exposure hazards. Trace metal immobilization into sulfidic minerals, such as, pyrite, plays a key role in estuarine soils; however, this process is limited in the Doce River estuarine soil due to low sulfate inputs. Thus, to assess the use of gypsum amendment to induce pyritization in deposited tailings, a mesocosm experiment was performed for 35 days, with vinasse added as carbon source and doses of gypsum (as a sulfate source). Chemical and morphological evidence of Fe sulfide mineral precipitation was observed. For instance, the addition of 439 mg of S led to the formation of gray and black spots, an Fe2+ increase and decrease in sulfides in the solution, an increase in pyritic Fe, and a greater Pb immobilization by pyrite at the end of the experiment. The results show that induced pyritization may be a strategy for remediating metal contamination at the Doce River estuary.

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“…Additionally, previous studies have reported the presence of potentially toxic elements and phosphorus associated with the mine tailings Fe oxyhydroxides Gabriel et al 2020a). Thus, the present study is pivotal to determine the actual role of Fe oxyhydroxides in the fate of these environmentally detrimental elements (Queiroz et al , 2021a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Iron geochemistry in tropical estuarine soils affected by anthropic and natural disasters

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From sinks to sources: The role of Fe oxyhydroxide transformations on phosphorus dynamics in estuarine soils

Cited by 37 publications

References 113 publications

Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse

Manganese: The overlooked contaminant in the world largest mine tailings dam collapse

Gypsum Amendment Induced Rapid Pyritization in Fe-Rich Mine Tailings from Doce River Estuary after the Fundão Dam Collapse

Iron geochemistry in tropical estuarine soils affected by anthropic and natural disasters

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