Bananas Grown Near Mining Spill in Brazil May Be Unsafe for Children Under Six

Bananas are one of the most popular fruits in the world. They are nutritious, easy to eat and loved by adults and kids alike. But new research suggests that bananas grown near the site of one of the worst environmental disasters in Brazil may pose health risks for young children. This finding raises questions about food safety, long term contamination and how mining waste affects crops in nearby regions.

In November 2015, a tailings dam at the Fundão iron ore mine in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil failed. This disaster released millions of cubic meters of mining waste into the environment. The toxic slurry traveled through rivers, including the Doce River, and affected land and water supplies in many communities. Years later, researchers are still studying how the contamination from this event continues to affect ecosystems and human health.

A recent study published in the journal Environmental Geochemistry and Health looked at bananas, cassava and cocoa plants grown in soil affected by the mining waste. The study found that bananas grown in this contaminated soil accumulated higher levels of certain heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. According to the researchers, these metals can pose serious health risks, especially to children under the age of six.

Why Bananas Were Studied

Bananas were chosen for this study because they are widely consumed, especially by children. Children eat more food relative to their body weight than adults, and their developing bodies are more vulnerable to toxins. For these reasons, researchers wanted to know whether bananas grown in contaminated soil could contain unsafe levels of metals.

The team sampled bananas from farms near the Doce River estuary. They also included cassava root and cocoa pulp in the study. Each crop was analyzed for a range of metals including lead, cadmium, copper, chromium and nickel. These metals are common in mining waste and can accumulate in soil and plant tissues.

The results showed that bananas absorbed the highest levels of lead and cadmium when compared with cassava and cocoa. Lead and cadmium are particularly concerning because they do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time.

Health Risks of Lead and Cadmium in Food

Exposure to lead and cadmium can have harmful effects on human health. Lead is a neurotoxin. It can interfere with brain development and result in cognitive deficits, learning difficulties and behavioral problems in children. Cadmium can damage the kidneys, weaken bones and increase the risk of cancer. Both metals are classified as toxic elements with no known safe level of exposure for children.

When researchers calculated the potential health risk based on typical banana consumption for children under six, they found that the risk exceeded safe limits. For adults, the risk remained low. But for young children who eat more fruit relative to their body weight and whose organs are still developing, the risk was significant.

The total risk index for bananas was above a level considered safe for children. Lead was identified as the main contributor to this risk. This suggests that the contaminated bananas could pose acute harm to young children if regularly consumed.

Researchers also examined cassava and cocoa plants. In cassava, most metals stayed in the roots. Cassava is often processed or cooked before eating, which may reduce exposure. Cocoa plants showed higher metal levels in stems, leaves and pulp. In cocoa pulp, copper and lead levels exceeded limits set by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). This suggests that other crops besides bananas could pose concerns depending on how they are consumed.

Understanding Metal Uptake in Plants

One part of the study looked at how metals move from soil to plant. Soil contaminated by tailings from the dam contains high levels of iron oxide and trace metals. Plants take up nutrients and water from soil. Along with nutrients, they may also absorb metals present in contaminated soil.

The researchers found that the content of iron oxide in soil was strongly correlated with metal levels in plant tissues. This suggests that the more contaminated the soil, the more metals plants may take up. The team studied both cultivated species, like bananas, and native plants to understand different uptake patterns. Their goal was to identify plants that could help clean up contaminated land while minimizing the transfer of metals into food crops.

This work is part of broader efforts in environmental science to understand how toxic elements from industrial sites spread through ecosystems. By identifying species that either limit uptake into edible parts or help remove contaminants from soil, scientists hope to improve remediation strategies.

Implications for Food Safety and Public Health

One of the key takeaways from the study is that food safety can depend greatly on where food is grown. Crops planted in contaminated soil may contain unsafe levels of toxic elements even if they look healthy. For communities near sites of environmental disasters, this poses a serious public health concern.

Children are particularly vulnerable because of their smaller body size, higher food intake relative to body weight and developing organs. Even low level exposure to toxic elements like lead can have lasting effects on health and development.

For adults, the risk from eating contaminated bananas was lower. But adults may still accumulate toxic elements over years of exposure. The long term effects of repeated consumption of contaminated food are more difficult to predict, and may vary depending on overall diet, age, health status and other environmental exposures.

What Communities and Authorities Can Do

Monitoring food safety near contaminated sites is essential. Regular testing of crops for toxic metals can help identify risks before contaminated food reaches consumers. Governments and health agencies should support farmers by providing information about soil contamination and safe agricultural practices.

In some cases, growing alternative crops that do not accumulate metals in edible parts may reduce risk. Soil remediation techniques such as adding amendments that bind metals or planting specific species that help remove contaminants can improve land health over time.

Public education is also key. People who grow or buy food from areas near industrial or mining sites should be aware of potential risks. Parents and caregivers should know which foods may pose dangers and how to minimize exposure for children.

Conclusion

The study on bananas grown near the Fundão mining disaster site in Brazil suggests that food grown in contaminated soil can pose health risks for children under six. Bananas from these areas were found to accumulate higher levels of lead and cadmium than is safe for young children. The risk for adults was lower, but long term exposure and accumulation of metals remains a concern.

Food safety is not just a matter of flavor or freshness. It is also about understanding where food comes from and what environmental factors may impact its quality. Ongoing monitoring, public awareness and scientific research are essential to protect vulnerable populations and ensure that food remains safe to eat.

Sources

Study published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health, February 2026
Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, news release, February 17, 2026.

Disclaimer

This blog post provides general information for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. Individual health risks can vary. Always consult a qualified health professional for personalized guidance and before making decisions about diet and health.