BHP mine disaster waste in Brazil was toxic

Eight bodies have been identified thus far and 11 people are listed as missing, although five of them may be the unidentified victims. “The Government and companies should be doing everything within their power to prevent further harm, including exposure to heavy metals and other toxic chemicals”, the report said.

It went on to state that Brazil’s National Water Agency (ANA) and the Brazilian Geological Service (CRPM) are carrying out analysis on water and sediment in the river.

Mining giants responsible for a dam spill in Brazil earlier this month rejected Thursday accusations by the United Nations that the deadly flood of water and mud was highly toxic.

The agency’s special rapporteurs John Knox and Baskut Tuncak said the steps taken by the Brazilian government and the co-owners – Vale and BHP Billiton – to prevent harm, were clearly insufficient.

The agency said to have “new evidence” showing that the 50 million metric tons of iron ore waste released from the November 5 Samarco’s dam rupture contained high levels of toxic elements, but failed to name what studies were the basis for such evidence or who had conducted them. At least 12 people have been confirmed dead in connection with the disaster and there are mounting concerns of a long-term health crisis.

The mud has killed thousands of fish as it flows through the Rio Doce, the river that connects the mineral-rich state of Minas Gerais with Espirito Santo on the Atlantic coast.

Experts have been shocked by the destruction and impact of the collapse, which Brazilian officials have called the worst ever environmental disaster in the country. They also said that this will not change the chemical composition in the water.

A plume of mud and mining waste travelled down the Rio Doce from the site of the iron ore mine over the past two weeks and reached the Atlantic Ocean on Monday.

Diggers also worked to widen the mouth of the river to ensure the mud drifted out to sea and disperse as soon as possible.

Their findings contradict repeated statements by the Brazilian government and the mining… In sharp contrast to that figure, a community whose water supplies have been affected by the tailings flowing downstream the Rio Doce river filed a 10 billion real (£1.72 billion) against Samarco, indicating that the total costs of the disaster could be quite substantial.

A vehicle balances on a building in Bento Rodigues district, which was covered with mud after a dam owned by Vale SA and BHP Billiton Ltd burst in Brazil.