Rupture of Brumadinho dam (Minas Gerais, Brazil): Embryotoxicity in Zebrafish induced by metal presence in waters

Rupture of dam B-1 at the Córrego do Feijão Mine in Brumadinho, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil (25/Jan/2019) contaminated the Paraopeba River with mine waste. To identify adverse effects of this event on public and environmental health, we conducted the Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity (FET) Test (OECD No. 236) in vitro. During the tests, zebrafish embryos were exposed to solutions containing realistic concentrations of dissolved iron and aluminum and total manganese at the following analysis points upstream or downstream of the dam: 10 km, upstream; 19.7 km, downstream, at the point where water for consumption is collected; 24.5 km, downstream, in the city of Mário Franco; and 59 km, downstream, on the border between the cities of Juatuba and Betim. Metal concentrations were taken from September 2019 report No. 53 released by the state of Minas Gerais Institute for Water Resources Management. Mortality was high at all exposure points and reached 93% at Juatuba/Betim point. We also detected lethal, sublethal and teratogenic effects such as non-hatching, non-inflation of the swim bladder, pericardial edema, and scoliosis. The results highlight the need for continuous monitoring of the water quality of the Paraopeba River.

巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州布鲁马迪纽市的科雷古·德·费让矿（Córrego do Feijão Mine）B-1号大坝于2019年1月25日发生溃坝，尾矿污染了帕奥佩巴河（Paraopeba River）。为明确该事件对公共与环境健康的不利影响，我们开展了鱼类胚胎急性毒性（Fish Embryo Acute Toxicity, FET）试验（经济合作与发展组织No.236标准，即OECD No.236）的体外实验。试验期间，将斑马鱼胚胎暴露于含实际浓度溶解铁、铝及总锰的溶液中，采样点位设置于大坝上下游的以下位置：上游10 km处；下游19.7 km处（当地饮用水取水点）；下游24.5 km处（马里奥·佛朗哥市境内）；下游59 km处（茹阿图巴与贝蒂姆两市交界地带）。金属浓度数据取自米纳斯吉拉斯州水资源管理研究所2019年9月发布的第53号报告。所有暴露点位的胚胎死亡率均较高，在茹阿图巴/贝蒂姆点位死亡率高达93%。本研究还检测到致死、亚致死及致畸效应，包括不孵化、鳔不充气、心包水肿与脊柱侧凸。研究结果凸显了对帕奥佩巴河水质开展持续监测的必要性。