A systematic review of the environmental impacts of the Fundão dam rupture in Mariana (Minas Gerais, Brazil).

The rupture of the Fundão dam in Mariana (Minas Gerais, Brazil) in November 2015 marked the world's largest mining disaster, impacting the Doce river watershed from Mariana to its estuary in Espírito Santo's coast, in Brazil. The acute and chronic effects on the biological system, along with alterations in soils, sediments, and surface and groundwater, should be addressed and compiled towards a better understanding of the multisystemic impact of the disaster. This systematic literature review summarizes the effects assessed by 91 studies from 2015 to 2022. Changes in chemical concentrations are associated with tailing composition and resuspension events that released contaminants prior to the rupture and the mud flow also induced physical alterations in grain size distribution, turbidity, soil formation, and watercourses' margin morphology. Impacts on biological systems include bioaccumulation, vegetation loss, reduction in plant growth, species diversity and density, and increased nitrogenotrophic population and opportunistic species.