Brazil: Indigenous Sue Vale Over Contamination

BRASILIA, Brazil — The Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Brazil has initiated legal action against mining giant Vale, alongside the Brazilian government and the state of Para, due to heavy metal contamination found in the Xikrin Indigenous community. The contamination is linked to Vale’s operations at the Onca-Puma nickel mine, and the lawsuit was filed last Friday, coming to light this week. The Catete River, which flows through Indigenous territories, is suspected of carrying pollutants from the mining activities.

In 2022, Vale and the Xikrin community agreed on monthly compensations; however, the agreement did not address health concerns, according to prosecutors. Research carried out last spring by the Federal University of Para discovered alarming levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and nickel in the hair samples of nearly all 720 participants living in the Xikrin do Cateté Indigenous Territory. Cautious of potential water contamination, the community relies on bottled water for their children and purchases fish from local markets.

A particularly severe case was noted in a 19-year-old woman who exhibited nickel levels exceeding the safety threshold by an astonishing 2,326%. If not addressed, exposure to heavy metals can result in severe health issues, including brain damage and organ failure.

The Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which safeguards Indigenous rights, is urging Vale to create a continuous health monitoring initiative for the affected community. Furthermore, they are pressing the state of Para, which issued the environmental license, alongside the federal government, responsible for Indigenous health policy, to offer necessary support and ensure strict environmental regulation.

The lawsuit describes the condition of the Xikrin do Cateté as a dire humanitarian crisis requiring immediate judicial intervention. Ignoring the issue would only exacerbate the challenges faced by the Indigenous people due to ongoing environmental contamination.

In response, Para’s environmental agency announced that in 2024, an agreement was signed with Vale to alleviate the socio-environmental impacts of the Onca-Puma mine activities. However, representatives from Vale and Brazil’s Ministry of Health have not yet replied to requests for comments.

The city of Belem, located in Para, is set to host the upcoming United Nations climate conference, COP30, this November. Vale is participating by constructing a substantial 50-hectare infrastructure project named Parque da Cidade, or City Park, for the event.

The mining company has previously been linked to two of Brazil’s most severe environmental calamities, both occurring in Minas Gerais state. In 2015 and 2019, deadly dam collapses resulted in 291 fatalities and polluted extensive waterways.

The Associated Press has reported extensively on this matter, supported by various private foundations focused on climate and environmental issues. However, AP maintains full responsibility for its content.