High concentrations of toxic metals in water consumed by the Maxakali indigenous community in Brazil

Concentrações elevadas de metais tóxicos na água consumida pela comunidade indígena Maxakali no Brasil

Abstract

The Maxakali is the second largest indigenous population in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil; and parasitic diseases are its main cause of death. Problems related to the quality of water consumed by this population, added to the absence of public sanitation services, aggravate the risk of illnesses due to several water-borne pathologies. Thus, the main purpose of this paper was to evaluate the water quality consumed in natura by the Maxakali community, quantifying toxic metals in relation to the maximum values allowed by Brazilian law. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with samples of water collected in surface- and groundwater in the Maxakali villages, including three seasonal periods. Villages with the greatest number of altered measures of metals in water were Aldeias Pradinho (100%) and Água Boa (92%). The smallest number of changes were found in Aldeias Verde and Rafael (27%). The metals that appeared in the largest number of collections with values higher than recommended were Iron (50%), followed by Arsenic (46%), Aluminum (36%), Cadmium (22%) and Mercury (20%), respectively. The study identified high concentrations of toxic metals in the water consumed by the Maxakali indigenous community in Brazil.

Keywords:
Maxakali Indians; surface and underground water; toxic metals; water quality.