In a recent development, Brazil's Federal Prosecutor's Office has filed a civil lawsuit against mining giant Vale, the Brazilian government, and the Amazon state of Para over heavy metal contamination affecting the Xikrin Indigenous people. The lawsuit, revealed this week, alleges that Vale's nickel mining activities at the Onca-Puma site have led to contamination, with the Catete River carrying mine pollution into Indigenous territory.
A study conducted by the Federal University of Para found dangerously high levels of heavy metals, including lead, mercury, and nickel, in the hair of nearly all the 720 individuals surveyed in the Xikrin do Catete Indigenous Territory. This contamination has raised concerns about potential health risks, with one 19-year-old woman showing nickel levels 2,326% above the safe limit.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office is demanding that Vale establish a permanent health monitoring program for the Xikrin community. Additionally, the lawsuit calls on the state of Para and the federal government to provide technical and administrative support to ensure proper environmental oversight and public health policies for Indigenous communities.
Vale has stated that its operations are not responsible for contaminating the Catete River and that it monitors water quality around its mining sites. The company also provides funding for health initiatives and offers additional healthcare services to the Xikrin. Para's environmental agency signed an agreement with Vale in 2024 to address the socio-environmental impacts of the Onca-Puma nickel mine.
The Xikrin Indigenous people have resorted to using bottled water and purchasing fish from municipal markets due to fears of contamination in river water. The situation has been described as a humanitarian tragedy by the lawsuit, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent further suffering within the community.
With the upcoming United Nations climate conference, COP30, scheduled to be held in Para's capital, Belem, in November, the environmental impact of mining activities, such as those of Vale, is likely to come under increased scrutiny. Vale, known for its involvement in major environmental disasters in Brazil, is facing growing pressure to address the environmental and health concerns raised by the Xikrin Indigenous community.
