The Sea of Muds of Development: Impacts of the Samarco/Vale/BHP Disaster Waste on the Health of the Krenak People

Abstract

The rupture of the Samarco/Vale/BHP dam, in Mariana-MG, in 2015, caused the biggest environmental disaster ever to occur in Brazil, bringing deleterious effects to the various dimensions of life and health of the population affected in the Doce River basin. Mining residues from the disaster are still dispersed in the environment and in the river bed, being carried slowly with the flow of water, especially in rainy periods, which generates insecurity of the population with the quality of the water, the contamination of the groundwater , soil and food produced in it, fish, wild animals and livestock, in short, the entire food chain, consequently, with the potential to affect the health of people, especially the most vulnerable and with greater relationship with the Doce River, like the Krenak indigenous people. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to understand, from the perspective of the Krenak people, the impacts of the residues of the Samarco/Vale/BHP disaster on the health of this indigenous people. This is a case study, in which the focus group technique was used, worked with indigenous health agents, shamans and village elders, among other actors. The field findings reveal that the different dimensions of life and health of the Krenak people were impacted, such as food security, access to water, social, cultural and spiritual relationships, mental health, their traditional medicine, which requires monitoring by institutions responsible for indigenous health as well as post-disaster repair.