Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of lead sources in manioc flour from riparian communities in the Tapajós Region, Brazilian Amazon

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

From a previous pilot study, the Tapajós River basin riparian population was found to have elevated blood lead (PbB) levels, ranging from 0.59 to 48.3 μg/dL. Preliminary analyses of these results initially pointed to the metallic plates used in the production of manioc flour as a possible source. The main objective of this study was to investigate the potential environmental sources of Pb in the manioc flour in this region. The study was carried out in eight communities on the Tapajós River, where samples of manioc flour, metal plates and soil from manioc plantations were collected. In addition, samples of deposited sediments from the Tapajós River and its tributaries and riverbank sediments were collected. The metal composition was analyzed by SEM, XRF and GFAAS. The results show that the concentrations of Pb in manioc flour ranges from 0.08 to 0.31 mg/kg and the manioc paste from 0.004 to 0.037 mg/kg. The metallic plates used in the manioc-roasting process are made of carbon steel without Pb in the bulk alloy. Pb concentrations in soils where manioc roots were cultivated range from 8.9 to 26.1 mg/kg and Zn concentrations range from 12.7 to 59.1 mg/kg, indicating a contribution of polymetallic geological deposits. The clay-rich samples have high metal contents (including Pb, Zn and Cu). The Pb content of the clay samples ranges from 10.6 to 25.1 mg/kg. These results suggest that it is unlikely that the Pb found in the manioc flour originates from the metal plates used in its roasting process, rather, it seems to be associated to environmental factors determined by the local geology and soil composition.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguja MA, Juliani C, Tokashiki CC, Echeverri-Misas CM, Monteiro LVS, Lagler B (2014) Rochas hospedeiras das mineralizações epitermais e tipo pórfiro na Província Mineral do Tapajós. Anais 47° Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, Salvador (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (1995) Heavy metals in soils. Chapman and Hall, Glasgow

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Anticona C, Bergdahl IA, Lundh T, Alegre Y, Sebastian MS (2011) Lead exposure in indigenous communities of the Amazon basin. Peru Int J Hyg Environ Health 215:59–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbosa F Jr, Fillion M, Lemire M, Passos CJ, Rodrigues JL, Philibert A, Guimarães JR, Mergler D (2009) Elevated blood lead levels in a riverside population in the Brazilian Amazon. Environ Res 109(5):594–599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BRASIL (2005) Ministério do Meio Ambiente. Resolução CONAMA n 357. Ciência e Natura, Santa Maria (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • BRASIL (2009) Ministério do Meio Ambiente Resolução CONAMA n420. Ciência e Natura, Santa Maria (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • BRASIL (2013) Ministério da Saúde Agencia de Vigilância Sanitária. RDC n 42. Ciência e Natura, Santa Maria (in Portuguese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Carneiro MFH, Evangelista FS, Barbosa F (2013) Manioc flour consumption as a risk factor for lead poisoning in the Brazilian Amazon. J Toxicol Environ Health A 76(3):206–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiste RC, Cohen KO, Mathias EA, Oliveira SS (2010) Quantificação de cianeto total nas etapas de processamento das farinhas de mandioca dos grupos seca e d’água. Acta Amazônica 40(1):221–226 ((in Portuguese))

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fillion M, Philibert A, Mertens F, Lemire M, Passos CJS, Frenette B, Mergler D (2011) Neurotoxic sequelae of mercury exposure: an intervention and follow-up study in the Brazilian Amazon. EcoHealth 8(2):210–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutierrez DFG (2018) Petrogênese e metalogenia do magmatismo Paleoproterozoico na porção Sul da Província Mineral do Tapajós, Craton Amazônico. DSc Thesis, São Paulo University. (in Portuguese)

  • Harrison RM, Laxen DPH (1981) Lead pollution causes and control. Chapman and Hill, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Juliani C, Rye RO, Nunes CMD, Silva RHC, Menezes-Filho JA, Viana GFS, Paes CR (2012) Determinants of lead exposure in children on the outskirts of Salvador. Brazil Environ Mon Assess 184:2593–2603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juliani C, Vasquez ML, Klein EL, Villas RN, Echeverri-Misas CM, Santiago ESB, Monteiro LVS, Carneiro CC, Fernandes CMD, Usero G (2014) Metalogenia da Província TapajósIn: Metalogênese das Províncias Tectônicas Brasileiras. CPRM - Serviço Geológico do Brasil 1:51–90 ((in Portuguese))

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (2001) Trace elements in soil and plants, 3rd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 403

    Google Scholar 

  • Lara EL (2016) Rastreabilidade da composição mineral. Federal University of Bahia, Brazil

    Google Scholar 

  • Monteiro LVS, Neumann R, Alcover Neto A, Bettencourt JS, Snee LW (2005) Paleoproterozoic high-sulfidation mineralization in the Tapajós Gold Province, Amazonian craton, Brazil: geology, mineralogy, alunite argon age and stable isotopes constraints. Chem Geol 215:95–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romesburg HC (1990) Cluster analysis for researchers Robert E. Krieger Publishing Company, Florida

    Google Scholar 

  • Roulet M, Lucotte M, Canuel R, Rheault I, Tran S, de Freitos Gog YG (1998a) Distribution and partition of total mercury in waters of the Tapajos River Basin, Brazilian Amazon. Sci Total Environ 213:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roulet M, Lucotte M, Saint-Aubin A, Tran S, Rheault I, Farella N, Dezencourt J, Sousa Passos CJ, Santos Soares G, Guimaraes JRD, Mergler D, Amorim M (1998b) The geochemistry of mercury in central Amazonian soils developed on the Alter-do-Chao formation of the lower Tapajos River Valley, Para state, Brazil. Sci Total Environ 223:1–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roulet M, Lucotte M, Farella N, Serique G, Coelho H, Sousa Passos CJ, Scavone de Andrade P, Mergler D, Guimarães JRD, Amorim M (1999) Effects of recent human colonization on the presence of mercury in Amazonian ecosystems. Water Air Soil Pollution 112:297–313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokashiki CC (2015) Mineralizações low- e intermediate-sulfidation de ouro e de metais de base em domos de riolito paleoproterozóicos na porção sul da província mineral do Tapajós. DSc Thesis, Sao Paulo Universty, Brazil. (in Portuguese)

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq grant # 484094/2011-4) and partially financed by a grant from Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (JCB029/2015). The LAMUME (UFBA) is acknowledged for the SEM analysis. Myriam Fillion (UQAM) is acknowledged for helpful discussions and comments. Jessica Morgana R. Santana (UFBA) is acknowledged for valuable help in the sampling collection and processing. Erival A. Gomes-Júnior (UFBA) is acknowledged for performing the lead analyses of manioc flour and sediments. Leonardo Reis Bonfim (UFBA) is acknowledged for preparing the maps.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science and Technology, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil

    Luiz Rogério Pinho de Andrade Lima

  2. Graduate Program in Food Science, College of Pharmacy, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brazil

    José Antônio Menezes Filho

  3. Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil

    Frédéric Mertens

  4. Faculdade UnB Planaltina, Universidade de Brasília, Planaltina, DF, Brazil

    Carlos José Souza Passos

Authors
  1. Luiz Rogério Pinho de Andrade Lima
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. José Antônio Menezes Filho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frédéric Mertens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Carlos José Souza Passos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Luiz Rogério Pinho de Andrade Lima.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

de Andrade Lima, L., Menezes Filho, J., Mertens, F. et al. Investigation of lead sources in manioc flour from riparian communities in the Tapajós Region, Brazilian Amazon. Environ Earth Sci 80, 158 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09458-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09458-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation