Toxic Spill in the Amazon
 |
| https://www.hydro.com/en/about-hydro/hydro-worldwide/brazil/barcarena/hydro-alunorte/ |
 |
| http://www.lahistoriaconmapas.com/atlas/country-map16/ /belem-para-brazil-map.htm |
Water and soil surrounding Belem, Brazil, were recently found to be saturated in high levels of toxic refuse from an area alumina refinery. Recent rains contributed to the overflowing and subsequent flooding of refinery waste retention areas; this lead to the contamination of agricultural soil, drinking water wells, and even flooding of residential areas. The dangerous waste has locals very concerned.
The source of overflowing retention pools was Norwegian
owned Hydro Alunorte, the largest alumina refinery in the
world. The plant opened in 1995 and has over 1,600 employees. Hydro Alunorte’s parent company, Norsk Hydro, is one of the largest aluminum producers in the world, and
employs over 35,000 individuals across the globe.
Considering Belem’s position on the port of the Amazon
River to the Atlantic Ocean, water and soil poisoning could be deemed disastrous. While much of the area’s economy
depends on metal and mineral exports, a considerable and
irreplaceable portion belongs to fruit, nuts, and hardwood found only in the Amazon region. A spill into the river could travel throughout the waterway and affect agriculture in a very negative way. Not only would the economic sector relating to these specialty goods would tank, but penalties to the contributing refinery, itself a large contributor to the regional economy, would negatively affect the country and its inhabitants.
The source of overflowing retention pools was Norwegian
owned Hydro Alunorte, the largest alumina refinery in the
world. The plant opened in 1995 and has over 1,600 employees. Hydro Alunorte’s parent company, Norsk Hydro, is one of the largest aluminum producers in the world, and
employs over 35,000 individuals across the globe.
Considering Belem’s position on the port of the Amazon
River to the Atlantic Ocean, water and soil poisoning could be deemed disastrous. While much of the area’s economy
depends on metal and mineral exports, a considerable and
irreplaceable portion belongs to fruit, nuts, and hardwood found only in the Amazon region. A spill into the river could travel throughout the waterway and affect agriculture in a very negative way. Not only would the economic sector relating to these specialty goods would tank, but penalties to the contributing refinery, itself a large contributor to the regional economy, would negatively affect the country and its inhabitants.
Lead, aluminum, and sodium
 |
| https://southafricatoday.net/environment/norsk-hydro-acc used-of-amazon-toxic-spill-admits-clandestine-pipeline/ |
were found in the spillover in high amounts by the Brazilian Ministry’s Evandro Chagas Institute. Lead, even in small amounts, is highly dangerous and is known to cause lifelong impairments, if not death. Considering the shallow water wells used by locals for bathing, cooking, and drinking, this lead spillover is an immediate threat. The Brazilian Institute has recommended that potable water be shipped to the communities affected by the flooding, though officials representing the Ministry did not seem confident in the response time given to the emergency. One official stated he did not think that the emergency response plan in the affected communities was successful, and that a better system needs be put in place.
At first, Hydro Alunorte denied that any toxic contamination of the soil and water tables came from their overflowing retention pools. Chemical findings by the Brazilian Institute have turned over the truth, however, and the refinery has been penalized by Brazil’s environmental office and asked to cut their alumina production in half.
source: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/toxic-water-seeps-from-norwegian-mining-site-in-brazils-amazon/
