Artisanal mining of monazite and cassiterite in the Amazon: Potential risks of rare earth elements for the environment and human health

• Published in: Environmental management (New York) 2024-06, Vol.73 (6), p.1201-1214
• Main Authors: da Costa Alves Filho, Pedro Paulo, da Silveira Pereira, Wendel Valter, Dias, Yan Nunes, Ferreira de Moraes, Adriele Laena, Rodrigues, Flavio Henrique Santos, Ramos, Sílvio Junio, Santos de Souza, Edna, Fontes do Amaral, Anna Maria, Fernandes, Antonio Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amazonia; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Brazil; Cassiterite; Contamination; Deactivation; Developing countries; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental impact; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental risk; Forestry Management; forests; Gadolinium; Health risk assessment; Health risks; human health; Humans; LDCs; Metals, Rare Earth - analysis; Mine tailings; Mineral exploration; Mining; Monazite; Nature Conservation; Overburden; Pollution; Pollution index; Rare earth elements; risk; Risk Assessment; Risk levels; traditional technology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0364-152X; 1432-1009
• DOI: 10.1007/s00267-024-01964-8

Artisanal mining is intensely carried out in developing countries, including Brazil and especially in the Amazon. This method of mineral exploration generally does not employ mitigation techniques for potential damages and can lead to various environmental problems and risks to human health. The objectives of this study were to quantify the concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and estimate the environmental and human health risks in cassiterite and monazite artisanal mining areas in the southeastern Amazon, as well as to understand the dynamics of this risk over time after exploitation. A total of 35 samples of wastes classified as overburden and tailings in active areas, as well as in areas deactivated for one and ten years were collected. Samples were also collected in a forest area considered as a reference site. The concentrations of REEs were quantified using alkaline fusion and ICP-MS. The results were used to calculate pollution indices and environmental and human health risks. REEs showed higher concentrations in anthropized areas. Pollution and environmental risk levels were higher in areas deactivated for one year, with considerable contamination factors for Gd and Sm and significant to extreme enrichment factors for Sc. Human health risks were low (