Major Amazon mines contaminate rivers and threaten local population

This week, The Brazilian Report narrated the plight of the Munduruku indigenous people, under threat from illegal gold miners in Brazil’s Amazon and the violence, deforestation, disease, and pollution they bring with them. Recent studies found that 99 percent of the Munduruku community had over 10µg/L of mercury in their blood streams. Commonly used by wildcat miners to obtain gold in rivers, such high levels of mercury pose a severe risk of poisoning.

However, these illegal mining operations are not the only ones polluting the Amazonian environment and causing health risks to traditional peoples. A recent leak at a facility belonging to major tin miner Taboca, in Amazonas state, drastically altered the water quality of the Tiaraju and Alalaú rivers, as well as nearby streams. These waterways are crucial sources of fish for several indigenous communities, and the water is used for drinking, bathing, and preparing wood.

The problem was first identified by local indigenous people. In March, members of the Waimiri-Atroari community noted an abundance of dead fish and turtles and alerted the authorities. Two months later, officials from the Brazilian Indigenous Foundation (Funai) visited the area and confirmed the contamination originated from Taboca’s nearby mine. The company pledged to fix the problem within 15 days.

One day later, however, the...