MEDICAL GEOLOGY

(Geomedicine)

AN INTRODUCTION,
WITH BRAZILIAN EXAMPLES

WILSON SCARPELLI

[email protected]
São Paulo - Brazil

Scarpelli

SOME OFFICIAL

PROGRAMMES
Medical Geology
IGCP project #454
IUGS Special Initiative
http://home.swipnet.se/medic
algeology/
Programa Nacional de Pesquisa em Geoquímica Ambiental e Geologia Médica
PGAGEM

Brazilian Geological SUMÁRIO EXECUTIVO

PGAGEM
Services - CPRM
(Proposta Preliminar)

TRABALHOS TÉCNICOS
Programa Nacional de EVENTOS

Pesquisa em LINKS ÚTEIS

Geoquímica Ambiental e Roda de discussão:

[email protected]
r
Geologia Médica http://www.cprm.gov.br/pgagem/pgagem.pdf
Scarpelli

1
 MEDICAL GEOLOGY IS A
TEAM SCIENCE
principal contribution from geologists:
GEOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY
OF TRACE ELEMENTS

- IRREGULARITIES IN THEIR REGIONAL

DISTRIBUTION

- THEIR GEOLOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL

CHARACTERISTICS

- NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL CONTAMINATIONS

- INFLUENCE IN ANIMAL AND VEGETAL HEALTH DUE TO
EXCESSES OR DEFICIENCIES
Scarpelli
“You are what you eat”

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
TO ANIMALS AND VEGETATION
TO TO TO POSSIBLY
TO ALL SEVERAL SOME SOME ESSEN-
CLASSE SPECIES TIAL
CLASSES S

H, C, N Si, V, Co B, F, Cr Li, Al, Ni Rb, Sn

O, Na, Mg Mo, I Br Sr, Ba

P, S, Cl

K, Ca, Mn
Fe, Cu, Zn,
Se
MAJOR ELEMENTS TRACE ELEMENTSUSGS - FAQ
Scarpelli

2
 PATTERNS OF INFLUENCE OF THE ELEMENTS
assimilation increase

MACRONUTRIENTS (C, Ca, Cl, P, Mg, K, Na, S, O, H)

deficit good no difference

ESSENTIAL MICRONUTRIENTS (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn,

Mo, Se, V, Zn, F, I, Si)
deficit good toxic lethal

NON ESSENTIALS (Be, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti etc.)
tolerable toxic lethal

“Everything is poisonous, nothing is poisonous. It is just a question of dosage.”

Scarpelli F.R.Siegel – “Environmental Geochemistry”

ACTION OF MACRONUTRIENTS
Ca Strengthening of bones and teeth; muscular activity; blood
coagulation; cellular permeability. Excess may originate liver
and bladder stones and renal insufficiency.
Cl Maintenance of blood pressure; vital as acid constituent
during digestion.
K Maintenance of corporeal fluids; muscular contractions and
nervous impulses.
Mg In bones, together with Ca; activation of muscular
contractions; body temperature control; component of
several enzymes.
Na Active in hydrosaline equilibrium; transmission of nervous
impulses and transport of metabolites.
P Bone constituent as apatite; participates of most body
chemical reactions. Excess turns brittle hairs and bones.

G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute” and others

F.R. Siegel – “Environmental Geochemistry”
Scarpelli O.Selinus e A.Frank – “Medical
Geology”

3
 ACTION OF MICRONUTRIENTS
Co Active in vitamin B12 and in chemical reactions. Deficiency
causes anemia. Excess causes hearth failures.
Cr Needed for metabolism of sugar. Deficiency may cause
diabetes, intolerance to glycose etc. Excess may result in
renal failures. Excess of Cr6 is cancerigenous.
Cu Component of oxidizing enzymes during metabolism of
energy sources; active in the synthesis of hemoglobin, in
keratization and in skin and hair pigments. Deficiency leads
to osteoporosis and low number of white blood cells.

F Give strength to teeth and bones, avoiding dental caries and

osteoporosis. Excess causes fluorosis of teeth and bones.
I Required by thyroidal hormones, temperature control, body
growth, reproduction etc. Deficiency causes abnormal
growth of the thyroid.
G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute” and others
F.R. Siegel – “Environmental Geochemistry”
Scarpelli O.Selinus e A.Frank – “Medical
Geology”

FUNÇÃO DE MICRONUTRIENTES
Fe Essential component of hemoglobin e enzymatic complexes
required for energy generation and immunological system.

Mn Promotion of growth and development; cellular functions;

in bones and cartilages; takes part in metabolic reactions.
Excess leads to excess of blood. May cause neurological
diseases if inhaled to the lungs.

Se Prevention of vascular and other diseases; neutralizes cells

oxidation and aging actions of free radicals. Excess turns
brittle nails and hair.

Zn Occur in all tissues, mostly in bones, muscles and skin;

active in the immunological system; regulates body growth;
protects the liver. Deficiency reduces body growth.

G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute” and others

F.R. Siegel – “Environmental Geochemistry”
Scarpelli O.Selinus e A.Frank – “Medical
Geology”

4
 OTHER ELEMENTS
Al Non essential, albeit its crustal abundance. Interferes with and
reduces assimilation of phosphorus and fluor, causing bone
demineralization. Suspect of influencing Alzheimer disease.
As Essential (?). Excess is carcinogenic.
Be Non essential. Toxic when inhaled as dust.
Cd Non essential. Toxic and carcinogenic. Interferes with Zn,
inhibiting the normal assimilation of Zn.
Hg Non essential. Poisonous.
Ni Essential to vegetables, possibly also to animals.
Pb Non essential and toxic.
Sb Non essential.
Sn Non essential.
Ti Non essential.
V Essential. Extends teeth life. Excess may cause lung diseases.

Scarpelli F.R.Siegel – “Environmental Geochemistry”

COMMON PATHWAYS OF THE ELEMENTS

TO REACH THE FOOD CHAIN

volcanic and other dusts

solubilized elements are
assimilated by vegetation
or drank by animals precipitation
evaporation
transport by
weathering surface
soil soil
waters
transport by underground waters assimilated or
ingested by
the aquatic
sediment
biota

metamorphic and sedimentary rocks igneous rocks

Anthropomorphic actions not considered.

Scarpelli

5
 WATER AND FOOD
Current waters reflect the chemical composition of underlying
rocks.

Vegetation reflects the chemical composition of the soils where

they growth.

The animals, for their water and food, reflect the chemical
composition of the region where they live.

Population feeding exclusively of locally produced foods are

more affected by geochemical anomalies.

There are classic cases of health problems due to abundance or

lack of elements as I, As, Se, Zn and others.

IT SEEMS RECOMMENDABLE TO CONSUME TREATED WATER

AND FOOD FROM VARIABLE SOURCES.
Scarpelli

POLLUTION AS SOURCE OF ANOMALIES

VOLCANISM
NATURAL
Volcanism
Dust storms

ANTHROPOMORPHIC Pinatubo Quito, Ecuador

Industrial rejects DUST STORMS

Mine rejects
Insecticides
Desertification
Urban centers
Others Africa China
Scarpelli

6
 GRADE OF GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

TOTAL (the “in situ” grade of an element)

BIOAVAILABLE (fraction available for assimilation by live

organisms)

ABSOLUTELY BIOAVAILABLE (fraction actually assimalable by

a specific living organism)

(More frequently examined

elements: Al, As, Be, Cd, Cr,
Cu, Hg, NI, Pb, Se, and Sb;
ABSOLUTELY
plus Ag, Ba, Co, Mn,
BIOAVAILABLE
Mo, Na, Tl,
BIOAVAILABLE
TOTAL INITIAL
V and Zn)
CONTENT
NOT ASSIMILABLE FOR
NOT BIOAVAILABLE A SPECIFIC
ORGANISM
Scarpelli

NATURAL AVAILABILITY

Weathering of mother rocks liberates metals and metalloids

to soil, water, and atmosphere, as new minerals, residual
minerals, in solution, adsorbed, as organic and/or inorganic
complexes, and as vapors.

The weathering is strongly dependent of the local climate and

the action of living organisms.

Carbonates and oxide-hydroxides of Fe and Mn predominate

amongst the new crystalline forms of metals and metalloids.

Clay minerals are important for adsorption of metals and

metalloids.

Scarpelli

7
 EXAMPLE OF BIOAVAILABILITY
The maximum agrarian productivity coincides with
the greater bioavailability of potash.
rock gibbsite
smectite- kaolinite
rock
K+ in water

agrarian
productivity

In the soil profile, the peak concentration of K

is were smectite predominates.
Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e
Salute”

LOW BIOAVAILABILITY, OR “METALS

ESTERILIZATION”, ON LATERIZATION
Zone A – yellow clays, rich in SiO2. Leached of Mg,
Ca, K, Na, Cu, Zn and others.
Zone B – clayous and concretional, rich in Al and
Fe, with Mn, As, Co, Se, Zn, and Ni retained within
limonite. Leached of Mg, Ca, K, Na and others.

Zone C – argillaceous saprolite, with gradual physical

and chemical transition to the fresh rock below.
Grades of Mg, Ca, K, Na, Cu, Ni and others increase
towards the base.
Water with dissolved metals accumulate towards the
base.

Fresh rock.

Scarpelli

8
 BIOAVAILABILITY
availability of the elements to the biota

It is influenced by climate, pH, oxidation potential, the biota

(vegetation, microorganisms, etc.), mineralogy, temperature,
speciation of the elements, interferences between the
elements (>Cu when <Zn,Fe,Mo), etc.
Appearance greater Pb – oxalate
of salts Pb – carbonate
increase the Pb – acetate
bioavailability of Pb – sulfate
the metals smaller Pb – sulfide

Metals solubilized as cations are more bioavailable in acid

waters.

Metals solubilized as oxi-anions (as As5, Mo6-, CrO6-) are more

bioavailable, essentially in basic waters.

Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute”

CHEMICAL INTERFERENCES
Mo Cu Increase in soil pH increases the mobility of Mo
in relation to the mobility of Cu, reducing the
capacity of the vegetation to assimilate Cu, with
bad results for animals and humans.
Cu Fe The presence of Cu, and possibly of Ni, is
necessary for proper action of Fe in metabolism.

P2O5 Zn Increase of P2O5 in soil reduces the capacity of

vegetation to assimilate Zn, with detrimental
results for animals and humans.
Zn Cd Increase of Zn reduces the capacity to assimilate
Zn by vegetation, animals and humans.
S Se The use of S-rich fertilizers reduces the capacity
of vegetation for assimilation of Se from soil,
with bad effects for animals and humans.

Scarpelli C.Montgomery, em “Environmental Geology”

9
 TOXICITY – BRAZILIAN NORMS

SOLUBILIZATION TEST
NORM ABNT – NBR 10006

Test in neutral solution, ph 7.0.

Test in duplicate, each with 100 g of sample.
Permanence time of 7 days after strong initial agitation.
Final solutions diluted to 400 ml with deionized water.
Assaying for the grades of the solution.

LEACHING TEST
NORM ABNT – NBR 10005

Test in acid water, with acetic acid 0.5 N.

Continual agitation of 50 g sample, at pH 5.0 +/- 0,2.
Minimal period of 25 hours.
Acidity is maintained with additions of acetic acid.
Final solution is diluted to 800 ml with deionized water.
Assaying for the grades of the solution.
Scarpelli

BRAZILIAN NORMS FOR ARSENIC

WATER FOR < 0.010 mg/L Ministério da Saúde,
HUMAN Decree 1469/GM, Art.
( before 2000 was <0.050 mg/L)
CONSUMPTION 14, of 29.12.2000
SUBSOIL there is no official limit CETESB-SP uses grade
WATER of potable water
DISCHARGE IN < 0.500 mg/L CONAMA,
NATURAL Resolution20/1986
DRAINAGE

INERT ABNT, Norms

PRODUCT < 0.050 mg/L in solubilization test NBR-10004 e 10006

NON INERT < 5.000 mg/L in leaching test ABNT , Norms

PRODUCT >0.050 mg/L in solubilization test NBR-10004, 10005 e
10006
TOXIC > 5.000 mg/L in leaching test ABNT, Norms
PRODUCT NBR-10004 e 10005

Scarpelli W.Scarpelli – “As em minério de manganês”

10
 ARSENIC IN THE
SERRA DO NAVIO
MANGANESE ORES
The ore minerals, oxides
and hydroxides of Mn, are
product of weathering of
protores constituted mostly
of rhodochrosite and
garnets, attacked by acid
waters, with pH of about 5.5,
typical of the Amazonian
rain forest.
The As is retained within the
oxides and hydroxides of
Mn and Fe, with the
resulting ores assaying
about 0.17% As.

W.Scarpelli – “As em minério de manganês”

Scarpelli

ARSENIC SOLUBILITY
of the Serra do Navio manganese ore
Samples LEACHING SOLUBILIZATION
Ore natural grades TESTS TESTS
sam- As As As As
ples leached leached
% % ppm Sam- solu- Sam- solu-
Mn Fe As ple tion mg % ple tion mg %
mg mg/L mg mg/L
G36 26 15 1,516 76 0.01 0.01 0.01 152 0.01 0.04 0.003
B30 29 15 1,364 68 0.01 0.01 0.01 136 0.01 0.04 0.003
M30 30 14 1,558 78 0.01 0.01 0.01 156 0.01 0.04 0.003
M28 29 13 1,499 75 0.01 0.01 0.01 150 0.01 0.04 0.003
M26 26 14 1,549 77 0.01 0.01 0.01 155 0.01 0.04 0.003
M20 25 13 1,356 68 0.01 0.01 0.01 136 0.01 0.04 0.003
Carb 17 5 1,415 71 0.07 0.06 0.08 142 0.47 0.19 0.133

Dissolution of As is smaller in the leaching tests, run under acid pH, reflecting that the ore
was formed under acid conditions. Overall, less than 0.01% of the contained As is dissolved.
G36 e B30 – coarse ores (>0,8 cm diameter)
M30, M28, M26 e M20 – medium ores (<0,8 a >1 mm diameter)
Carb – fresh carbonatic protore
Scarpelli W.Scarpelli – “As em minério de manganês”

11
 EXAMPLES OF CHANGES OF TOXICITY LEVELS AS
FUNCTION OF SPECIATION OF THE ELEMENTS

ELEMENT LESS TOXIC MORE TOXIC

As5
As As3 (as arsenate)

organic inorganic

Cr6
Cr Cr3 (as chromate)

Mo6
Mo Mo2 (as molibdate)

Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute”

SPECIFIC ABSOLUTE BIOAVAILABILITY

Corresponds to the actual percentage of an element

effectively assimilated by a specific organism, animal
or vegetal.

It is function of the form of occurrence of the elements,

their speciation, interference with other elements,
concentration, pH, Eh, temperature, climate,
granulometry, etc.

Determined with analysis under a large number of

conditional variables, not rarely including samples of
vegetation and animals from the environment under
study.

To replicate possible human U.S.

ingestion, “in Eng.
Naval Facilities vitro”
Command; “Guide fo
Incorporating
assays are made under pH of 1.5. Bioavailability – UG-2041-ENV”
Scarpelli

12
 EFFECTS OF NATURAL
ANOMALOUS DISTRIBUTION
OF TRACE ELEMENTS

IODINE - FLUORINE - ARSENIC -

SELENIUM

Scarpelli

IODINE
Lack of iodine forces a hyperactivity of the thyroid gland.

natural waters with < 0,23 ppm I

> 5 / 1000 affected persons

The thyroid gland uses

iodine to produce
hormones to control
the metabolism and
the generation of
corporal energy.
L.Chyi – “The Right Dose”
Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute”
Before the regular
addition of iodine to
table salt, goiter was
common in large
areas with scarce
iodine. 13
 FLUORINE
Fluorine is an essential component of phosphates, as the hydroxi-
fluor-apatite, a constituent of teethes and bones.

It is essential for healthy and strong teeths

and bones, and to avoid osteoporosis.

The excess causes fluorosis, with

mottled and harder teeth and
bones calcifications.

Fluorosis is common where

drainage water is high in fluor,
and is consumed without adequate treatment, as in
large areas of China, Ghana, Sri Lanka and other places.

More than 100,000,000 people have fluorosis.

Scarpelli

FLUORINE
IN SMALL DRAINAGE BASINS OF THE PARANÁ STATE, BRAZIL
(fluorine in drainage water, in mg/L)

Scarpelli O.A.B. Licht – “Atlas Geoquímico do Paraná”, MINEROPAR

14
 ARSENIC
As5+ is more toxic than As3+ and inorganic (salt As) is more
harmful than inorganic (methilated As).
When ingested in small doses, organic As is eliminated with
urine. The excess could be fixed in vital organs, from where it
could also be eliminated, as long as the excessive ingestion is
not continued.
Inorganic As fixes itself easier in the organism than inorganic
As, although part of it is transformed into inorganic by
methilation.
Toxic effects appear when As is ingested in excess for long
periods, resulting in cancer, cutaneous malignancies, etc.
In Chile, Argentine, Mexico, India, and other countries, where
there are sites with anomalously high concentration of As in the
water, the population that drinks that water presents high
values of As in blood, hair, nails, and body organs.
Scarpelli

ARSENIC
PEOPLE AFFECTED BY NATURALLY CONTAMINATED WATER
Mongolia
Cornwal, England 50,000
contaminated
up to 2% As in soil

Taiwan
Lagunera, up to 0.6 mg/L
Mexico, 300,000 20,000
people affected contaminated

Bangladesh
up to 2.0 mg/L,
Antofagasta, Chile
200,000
0.8 mg/L in water,
affected
20,000 affected Cordoba, Argentine
10,000 contaminated

Scarpelli O.Selinus e A.Frank em “Medical Geology”

15
 ARSENIC
THE PROBLEM OF BANGLADESH
(>200,000 people contaminated as the lowering of the water table by
excessive pumping exposed arsenical pyrites to weathering)
previous level of the water table
water

sediments,
pump

saprolites
holes
schists with
arseniacal
pytires
present level of the water table

MOST VISIBLE EFFECTS

due to excess of arsenic in the drink water

Scarpelli
USA, ARSENIC IN SOIL

Arsenic in 1,323 soil samples, taken at road margins,

at a spacing of 80 km, one sample at each 6,000
km2.
Scarpelli USGS, Prof. Paper 1648, “Geochemical
Landscape”

16
 USA, ARSENIC IN GROUNDWATER

Arsenic in 31,000 water wells and other sources of water used for
human consumption, many requiring treatment.
Scarpelli S.Ryker, em “Mapping As in Groundwater”

ARSENIC IN THE AMAZONIAN RIVERS

O
ce
a no
VENEZUELA GUIANA
5

COLOMBIA At
SURINAME lâ
nt
ic
o
o

G.Fr.
ranc
S

Tro
E

R. B

m be

0,1 R.
D

Neg 0,1 0,3

ro
t as

0,8
N

0,7
0,9 0,1
A

1,6 1,1 4,5 0,1

0,3 2,6 1,2
1,4
s

0,8
õe

ós

3,9 0,2 0,1

-5

1,1
olim

aj
ra

ingu

PERU us
ap
ei

1,6 ur
ad

.T
R. S

.P
R. X
.M

R
R

BRASIL
uaia

>0,7
-10
rag

4,8
R. A

5,5

A 19,4
N
D
O

-15
ce
an

E BOLIVIA
o

S Arsenic in the rivers, in µg/L

Pa
cífi

(dissolved and in suspension)

c o

-20

Andean drainage
Drenagem andina Drenagem
Non não
Andean drainage
andina
75

70

65

60

55

50

45

Rivers from the Andes shows higher content of As.

Scarpelli W.Scarpelli, with data from Projeto HIBAM

17
 ARSENIC IN THE AMAZONIAN RIVERS
O
ce
VENEZUELA GUIANA a
COLOMBIA no

5
SURINAME A
tlâ
n tic

o
G.Fr. o

ranc

Trom
E

R. B

bet
D

0
sr R.
Neg 0,01 0,00

as
0,06 ro 0,56
N
0,26 0,07
A 0,48
0,01 0,53 2,9
0,51
0,43 2

s
0,01 0,03

õe

s
0,01 0,69 0,0 0,01

jó
0,01
m

-5
a

gu
PERU oli s

ap
ru

ra
0,01
Pu

in
.T
R. S

ei
R.

ad

R. X
R
.M
BRASIL

aia
0,15

ragu

-10
0,21

R. A
0,40

A 0,48
N
D
O

-15
ce

E BOLIVIA
an
o

S
Arsenic in the rivers, in tonnes/day
Pa
c

(dissolved and in suspension)

ífic
o

-20
DrenagemAndean
andinadrainage
NDornenAa ngdeemanndã ronaiaanggdeen
ia
70

65

60

55
75

50

45
Roughly 0.6 tons of As are transported DAILY to the Atlantic.
Scarpelli W.Scarpelli, with data from Projeto HIBAM

ost 2
Drill holes at the ARSENIC AT THE
ost 3
sedimentary
platform, where MOUTH AND
liberation of As rtm 2 DELTA OF THE
was observed
AMAZON RIVER
rtm 1
Water sampling
and assaying by
14
Laquanam Lab
9
(mg/m3 or
current
8
µg/L As)
9 direction DATA FROM
8 16
7 100 LAQUANAM LAB
3
km (Univ.Fed.Pará)
MACAPÁ 6 7
3
and

DRILL
Laquanam Lab data shows that As HOLES OF THE
5
grade increases towards the ocean
MULTIDISCIPLIN
5
ARY BELEM
7 7
1 2 AMAZON SHELF
SEDIMENTARY
Scarpelli W.Scarpelli – “Arsênio no minério de manganês”
STUDY

18
 ARSENIC
LIBERATED AT THE
DELTA OF THE
AMAZON RIVER
The sediments of the
platform get reduced at 1
to 1.5 m of depth, with
crystallization of the iron
hydroxides into sulfides
and carbonates. Soluble
Fe and As accumulate in
the pore water.
Turbulence of these
sediments brings these
elements to the ocean
surface waters.
Soluble Fe and As in pore water of the 4 indicated Sullivan & Allen in “Diagenetic cycling of
holes drilled at the sedimentary platform. arsenic in Amazon shelf
sediments”;
Scarpelli Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf Sediment Study

SELENIUM

Essential for metabolic reactions and for anti-oxidant enzymes,

which delay aging.
Daily doses of less than 0.04 mg might be insufficient and
greater than 0.10 mg could be toxic.
Sicknesses due to lack of Se occur in extensive areas of China,
accompanying some geological structures.
Selenium occurs essentially in sulfides, and their chemical
characteristics are similar to those of S.
Se6+ solubilizes easily than Se4+ and as such is more
bioavailable. Se4+ stays mostly within Fe oxides and
hydroxides.

Scarpelli

19
 SELENIUM
A belt of low-Se rocks influences millions of peoples.

CHINA

low Se
(<0,025 ppm)
Keshan
disease
Kashin-Beck
disease
Keshan e
Kashin-Beck
diseases

Keshan disease – weakening of the hearth

Kashin-Beck disease – muscular pains, others effects
O.Selinus e A.Frank in “Medical Geology”,
Scarpelli in “Environmental Medicine”, L.Moller

SOME NATURAL ANOMALIES IN BRAZIL

Amazon River Delta
Arsenic in high concentrations

S.Francisco-Januária, MG
Waters with high content of fluorine
Occurrence of fluorose
Paracatu
Many small people (not dwarfism)
Drenagem com altos teores de zinco
Araçuaí-Itinga
High grades of
Paraná lithium in drainage
Waters with high content of fluorine
Occurrence of fluorose

Scarpelli

20
 HEAVY WATERS

In Europe, it was noted that the incidence of

sudden earth failures is lower where people
consumes heavy waters. These are waters rich
in dissolved carbonates. The effect is greater
where the ratio Mg:Ca is greater.

Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute”

DELETERIOUS CHEMICAL ANOMALIES

DUE TO HUMAN ACTIVITIES

ACID WATERS
MERCURY – ARSENIC – CADMIUM - LEAD

Scarpelli G.Cortecci – “Geologia e Salute”

21
 ACID WATERS
Waters turned
excessively
acid from
sulfuric acid
formed by
oxidation and normal
dissolution drainage

of of sulfides,
mostly
pyrites and acid
water
pyrhotites.
Besides their acidity, they might also
be toxic due higher content
Theyofarearsenic,
also
lead, cadmium, copper,found
and other
near
elements, liberated withareas
the dissolution
of sulfide of
sulfides and carbonates.ore mining and
where the
Scarpelli rejects of the
mining and/or
the tailings of
the treatment
plants are
discarded
EXAMPLES OF ANTROPOMORPHIC
without ANOMALIES
adequate care.Santana, Amapá
Arsenic in tailings of pelotization

Santo Amaro, Bahia

Lead in tailings of a
metal refinery
Extensive areas Iron
contaminated with mercury Quadrangle
from garimpeiro gold works Arsenic in old gold
tailings and in an
area burnt by As-
Paraná – São Paulo rich smokes
Tailings of lead mining
also containing cadmium

Scarpelli

22
 MERCURY
Almost inert as a metal, it is highly toxic as a gas or in an
organic form. In acid environments rich in organic matter, it is
slowly methilated, and then accumulates in the food chain,
mostly in fishes.
It is liberated by volcanism, weathering, and
Thermo-electric coal power plants carnivorous fishes
Industries and their tailings concentrate methilated Hg
Burning of Au-Hg amalgam in garimpos
Dental amalgam

Minamata disease – attacks brain and neurological system

Scarpelli

EXAMPLE OF MERCURY CONTAMINATION IN

BRAZILIAN GARIMPEIRO AREAS
Normal values in hair, according to the OMS:

1 to 2 ppb

At Poconé, MT, outside the garimpo:

0.3 to 3 ppb
14 ppb
At Poconé, in the garimpo:
97 ppb
1.3 to 34 ppb (34 ppb after 16 years burning Au-Hg
amalgam)
34 ppb
At Cumaru, PA, maximum observed:
48 ppb
At Madeira River, RO, maximum observed:
71 ppb
At Rainha, Tapajos River, maximum
At Paraná Mirim, Tapajós River, maximum observed: 15 ppb
observed: At São Luiz do Tapajós,
F.Nogueira et alli. – “Mercúrio total em Poconé, MT”
Scarpelli maximum observed:
R.C.Villas Boas et alli. – “Mercury in the Tapajós
Basin”
At Barreiras, Tapajós River, maximum
observed:

23
 ARSENIC AT SANTANA, AMAPÁ, BRAZIL
Between 1973 and 1985, fines of the Serra do Navio manganese
oxide ore were used to produce 1,275,000 tonnes of pellets,
exported for steel plants. The heating of the ore, required for
the pelletization, partially reconstituted the mineralogy of the
protore, unstable under surface conditons. During the
operation, 75,600 tonnes of rejects were deposited in a water-
filled basin built near the plant.
Submersed in the water, the As
situated near the surface of the
particles were liberated,
contaminating the underground
water around the artificial basil.
The removal of the rejects from the
basin interrupted the
contamination, and was followed
The decrease was due to precipitation of
by immediate reduction of soluble INDUSTRIAL AREA
As with oxides and hydroxides of Mn and
As in the underground water. AMAZON RIVER
Fe, in the acid waters, as it happened
during the genesis of the ore.
Scarpelli W.Scarpelli – “As em minério de manganês”

ARSENIC IN MONITORING WATER WELLS

SANTANA, AMAPÁ, BRAZIL
August 1997 August 2002

Agosto de 1977

As in the monitoring wells without values: from 1997, < 0,05 mg/L
from 2002, < 0,01 mg/L
(all values in mg/L)
Scarpelli W.Scarpelli – “As em minério de manganês”

24
 CADMIUM AND LEAD

Cadmium is present in soil, vegetation and water

usually originates from Pb, Zn, and Cu sulfides
disseminates via water and air
concentrates in vegetation and animals
liberated from tailings, rejects and industries
batteries, burning of coal and cigarettes
causes softening and weakening of bones
causes osteoporosis (competing with calcium)

Lead industry and mining rejects

very wide dispersion, due to intensive use
quite disseminated near cities
causes saturnism and other brain
diseases

Scarpelli

DELETERIOUS PHYSICAL INFLUENCE FROM

GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS

- Silica dust in the lungs - silicosis

(occur essentially where there is a large quantity of fresh angular
fragments of silica, recently formed)
- Manganese dust – attack to the nervous system
(it is rare, but possible, where there is abundance of
manganese dust and no ventilation)
- Asbestos
- Radon – radioactive gas
- Other radioactive elements

Scarpelli

25
 ASBESTOS
The material seems attractive to the industry as it is
reducible to fibers, used as a raw material for several purposes
resistant to high temperatures
resistant to attack by chemical agents

As sources of industrial asbestos:

SERPENTINES (crisotile)
crisotile

AMPHIBOLES (riebeckite/crocidolite,
grunerite (amosite), anthophyllite,
tremolite e actinolite)

Scarpelli
tremolite

ASBESTOS
The human body has resources to return back fragments
inhaled with the respiration, before they reach the lungs.
Fragments that reach the lung, usually of <10 µ, are enveloped
by macrophagic cells, originating small globular masses that
are expelled with small coughs.
The process is not efficient with prismatic particles, as those of
asbestos, which are not easily coughed out. Reactions with
macrophagic cells, mainly if the mineral has Fe, initiate
chemical and physical reactions which might result in cancer
in the lungs.
SAMPLE OF BRONCHIAL LIQUID
SAMPLE OF BRONCHIAL LIQUID

iron and organic complexes cover a

prism of asbesto surrounded by
dust, prisms of asbesto and macrophages macrophagic cells
Scarpelli HE&W, Asbestus and
Disease

26
 ASBESTOS

Serpentines are less aggressive than amphiboles, possibly

because they contain less iron and are more flexible.
The incidence of asbestosis is perceptible essentially with
workers of mines and industries which manipulate with large
quantities of asbestos, mainly where they are smokers.
Cancer appears years after the ingestion of the fibers in the
lungs, mainly with smokers.

Scarpelli

Uranium 238U 4.5*10.9 years RADON

↓
α + Radium 226Ra 1,602 years Chain of the radio-
↓ isotopes formed with
+ the transformation of
Radon 222Rn 3.8 days
U238 to Pb206, with the
↓
α

α + Polonium 218Po 3 minutes intermediate

↓ elements and their
α + Lead 214Pb 27 minutes half-lifes.
↓
The capacity of
βγ + Bismuth 214Bi 20 minutes
penetration increase
↓
from the α to the γ
+ Polonium 214Po <1 seconds
particles.
βγ
↓ The ionization of the
α + Lead 210Pb 21 years
α particles is greater
↓
than that of the y
+ Bismuth 210Bi 5 days
↓ particles.
M.Svartengren – “Radon, a great
+ Polonium 210Po 138 days health risk”, in Environmental
Scarpe
β ↓ Medicine, L.Moller 27
+ Lead 206Pb stable
 RADON
Radioactive gas, intermediate in the transformation of U238 into
Pb206, during which there are solid radioactive phases and
intense emission of alfa, beta and gamma rays.
It is found in soil, and in surface and underground waters, in
areas of granites, gneisses, alkaline rocks, shales and other
silicatic rocks, essentially those that contain phosphates.
The gas form of radon allows for its inhalation with the
respiration and ingestion with drinking water.
It represents a substantial risk in underground mines where
there is uranium, in this case requiring strong ventilation.
In cold areas, where the houses are closed to preserve the
heat, radon might penetrate from beneath through small cracks
in the floor. That justifies the building of a open basement
under the house floors. The risk is smaller in well ventilated
environments.
Scarpelli

BIOREMEDIATION

Stimulated use of natural micro-organisms to consume

and neutralize toxic products in soil and water.

The action of the micro-organisms might be accelerated

with addition of nutrients.

It requires continued monitoring of the evolution of the

process.

It is being used by the USGS for organic contaminants

(oils, sludge, pesticides, solvents, fertilizers, etc.)

Scarpelli USGS – “Biogradation: Nature’s Way to a Cleaner Environment”

28
 WILSON SCARPELLI
[email protected]
et São Paulo, Brazil
Scarpelli

29