Science
Toxic Metals Found in Bananas and Crops a Decade After Brazil's Worst Mining Disaster
Researchers have detected dangerous levels of cadmium, lead, and other heavy metals in bananas, cassava, and cocoa grown in soil contaminated by the 2015 Fundão dam collapse. The findings raise particular concerns for young children, who face elevated health risks from consuming contaminated produce.
Key Takeaways
- Bananas grown near Brazil's 2015 Fundão dam collapse contain toxic metals posing health risks to children under six
- Five heavy metals including lead and cadmium were detected in bananas, cassava, and cocoa crops
- Cocoa pulp exceeded international safety limits for copper and lead concentrations
- Cumulative lifetime exposure could increase carcinogenic risk to the central nervous system and digestive tract
- Researchers from Brazil and Spain call for systematic food safety monitoring in mining-affected agricultural zones
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