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Doce River mine accident (Brazil)

1/13/2016

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You’ve gotten back into the school routine for a few weeks.  I hope it’s going well!
 

You might have received an amazon.com gift card or other monies for the holidays – you can use some of it to get the lab book Chemistry on a Budget.
 
This book contains inexpensive chemistry labs to expand your repertoire.  You can buy this lab book for $23 at amazon.com or lulu.com.
 

http://www.amazon.com/Chemistry-Budget-Marjorie-R-Heesemann/dp/0578129159/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1389410170&sr=1-1&keywords=chemistry+on+a+budget

http://www.lulu.com/shop/marjorie-r-heesemann/chemistry-on-a-budget/paperback/product-21217600.html
 
There are two versions of each lab, one with a ten-question conclusion and one with directions for a full lab report.  This way the teacher has the option!  Each lab is two pages to allow for one two-sided handout. 
 

It will take a week or so to get to you, so Order Now!
 
*Some of you have purchased my lab book – be sure to check out Page 141 !
 
You may be conducting mid-year exams at your school during the next few weeks.  A past blog entry dated 01/04/2015 discusses various aspects of
Midterm Examinations and could be helpful.
 
In November of 2015, a mine accident occurred in Brazil on the Doce River.  A past blog entry about older
Abandoned Mines in the U.S. was posted on 07/15/2015; and, a Colorado Mine Accident was a current event posting on 08/13/2015.
 
 “The [Brazilian] accident buried the small historic town of Bento Rodrigues…under mud. At least 11 people have died and more than 600 were displaced. In addition, the water supply of more than 250,000 people in the area was interrupted as it was contaminated with heavy metals.
[Tons]… of mud made up of iron ore waste and silica… have spread over 800km and reached one of the largest Brazilian rivers, the Rio Doce. The contaminated mud…has…toxic substances like mercury, arsenic, chromium and manganese at levels exceeding drinking water limits, [and] has reached the coast... It could potentially impact the wider marine ecosystem.”

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/2015/11/brazil-mine-disaster-dam-collapse
 
Here is a video clip providing a summary of the environmental disaster and showing the severity of the environmental damage:
“Toxic mud traveling down Brazil’s Rio Doce river has made its way to the Atlantic Ocean, and biologists say the chemicals could disrupt the delicate marine habitat that is a breeding ground for a variety of species, including the threatened leatherback turtle, dolphins and whales. The sludge contains dangerous levels of mercury, arsenic, chromium and manganese.”
http://www.ibtimes.com/toxic-mud-brazil-mine-collapse-reaches-atlantic-ocean-threatening-dolphins-turtles-2195381
 
“According to the latest models…the mud plume is expected to disperse along the coast around six miles south of Regência, two miles north and 1.5 miles out to sea.
The area is rich in marine life, including humpback whales and La Plata dolphins, but Almeida’s greatest concern is for the endangered leatherback turtle. The beach is one of the only regular nesting grounds for the creature in
Brazil.
… Fears over the presence of heavy metals and other toxins in the mud have also led ANA, the [N]ational [W]ater [A]gency, to suspend the use of the Rio Doce for human consumption.”
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/22/anger-rises-as-brazilian-mine-disaster-threatens-river-and-sea-with-toxic-mud
 
IGAM [the Institute for Water Management in Minas Gerais] found levels of arsenic, lead, aluminum, chromium, nickel and cadmium many times higher than the legal maximums at various points along the river…”
http://www.mining.com/toxic-elements-found-in-water-weeks-after-brazils-mine-disaster-vale/
 
“Brazil’s government…filed a $5.2 billion lawsuit against Vale and BHP Billiton…for irreparable damage and the country's worst environmental disaster. According to the United Nations, the collapse of mining company Samarco Mining’s Fundão dam in Minas Gerais released 50 million tons of iron ore waste, contained high levels of toxic heavy metals and other chemicals in the Doce river. “
http://www.latintimes.com/pulse/brazil-sues-mining-companies-doce-river-environmental-disaster-356737
 
Here is another current example of a mining disaster endangering the health of humans and the surrounding ecosystem. 
 
*Remember, this Blog contains several entries that would be helpful to your chemistry classroom.  Remember, you can check out the Topic List to help you to find past Blog entries.
 
Also, 
Write To Me about your successes, challenges, or questions in the Chemistry Classroom.
 
You might have received an amazon.com gift card or other monies for the holidays – you can use some of it to purchase the lab book Chemistry on a Budget which is very useful to your Chemistry classroom with labs and class article ideas.


Have a good week!
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    Marjorie R. Heesemann is a chemistry teacher with 15 years of experience who is now working to develop resources for the Chemistry classroom.

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