Environmental risk increase due to heavy metal contamination caused by a copper mining activity in Southern Brazil

The Camaqua Copper Mines (CCM) were the main sulphide deposit in Southern Brazil and have been in operation from last century to 1996. To evaluate water contamination and environmental risk increase by heavy metals from mining operations, two points on the Joao Dias Creek were sampled Station 1, background area and Station 2, contaminated anal. Mining activity increased the natural weakly heavy metal fluxes by approximately 5424 kg. (similar to 60%) of the total metal flux, 1542 kg. (similar to 49%) of dissolved and 3881 kg (similar to 66%) of particulate metal flux. Total metal flux of anthropic origin was mostly due to Fe followed by Cu > Zn > Mn whereas Cd, As and Pb fluxes were negligible. The potential human health hazards and risk assessment related to daily intake of water from Joao Dias Creek are mostly due to Mn and should be of concern for the contaminated area. The ingestion of water from station 2 represents incremental risks of 130% and 59% respectively, considering the non-carcinogenic and the carcinogenic effects. The real increase of human health hazards may be greater than those related to the total concentrations since Mn and As dissolved concentrations were 5.5 and 2.0 higher than acceptable, respectively.