Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims

Abstract This study analyzed the health impact on residents of neighborhoods in Maceió-AL, who were affected by ground subsidence resulting from halite extraction by the mining company Braskem. A mixed-methods approach was employed, beginning with a cross-sectional study phase in which a validated s...

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Main Authors: Anacássia Fonseca de Lima, Diego Freitas Rodrigues, Janaína Accordi Junkes, Bibiana Toshie Onuki de Mendonça, Juliana Matos Ferreira Bernardo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Ambiente e Sociedade (ANPPAS) 2025-05-01
Series:Ambiente & Sociedade
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1414-753X2025000100301&lng=en&tlng=en
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author Anacássia Fonseca de Lima
Diego Freitas Rodrigues
Janaína Accordi Junkes
Bibiana Toshie Onuki de Mendonça
Juliana Matos Ferreira Bernardo
author_facet Anacássia Fonseca de Lima
Diego Freitas Rodrigues
Janaína Accordi Junkes
Bibiana Toshie Onuki de Mendonça
Juliana Matos Ferreira Bernardo
author_sort Anacássia Fonseca de Lima
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study analyzed the health impact on residents of neighborhoods in Maceió-AL, who were affected by ground subsidence resulting from halite extraction by the mining company Braskem. A mixed-methods approach was employed, beginning with a cross-sectional study phase in which a validated scale (DASS-21) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were administered, followed by a phase of qualitative research. The findings revealed that the disaster significantly impacted the mental health of these individuals, with heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression surpassing normal thresholds. A correlation between mental disorders and the diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension was observed, suggesting extended physical health implications from the disaster for the affected individuals, who are subjected to a perpetual state of uncertainty leading to mental disorders and the worsening of pre-existing chronic diseases. The study underscores the significance of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in risk identification and decision-making processes to mitigate the disaster’s impacts.
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issn 1414-753X
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Associação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Ambiente e Sociedade (ANPPAS)
record_format Article
series Ambiente & Sociedade
spelling doaj-art-c99e4028a4f543de8a5293384efd256e2025-08-20T03:47:36ZengAssociação Nacional de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa em Ambiente e Sociedade (ANPPAS)Ambiente & Sociedade1414-753X2025-05-012810.1590/1809-4422asoc00522vu28l1oaMining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the VictimsAnacássia Fonseca de Limahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9206-2983Diego Freitas Rodrigueshttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5698-596XJanaína Accordi Junkeshttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4442-8856Bibiana Toshie Onuki de Mendonçahttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2581-9827Juliana Matos Ferreira Bernardohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9304-6662Abstract This study analyzed the health impact on residents of neighborhoods in Maceió-AL, who were affected by ground subsidence resulting from halite extraction by the mining company Braskem. A mixed-methods approach was employed, beginning with a cross-sectional study phase in which a validated scale (DASS-21) and a sociodemographic questionnaire were administered, followed by a phase of qualitative research. The findings revealed that the disaster significantly impacted the mental health of these individuals, with heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression surpassing normal thresholds. A correlation between mental disorders and the diagnosis of systemic arterial hypertension was observed, suggesting extended physical health implications from the disaster for the affected individuals, who are subjected to a perpetual state of uncertainty leading to mental disorders and the worsening of pre-existing chronic diseases. The study underscores the significance of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in risk identification and decision-making processes to mitigate the disaster’s impacts.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1414-753X2025000100301&lng=en&tlng=enBraskemMental HealthMiningAnxietyDepression
spellingShingle Anacássia Fonseca de Lima
Diego Freitas Rodrigues
Janaína Accordi Junkes
Bibiana Toshie Onuki de Mendonça
Juliana Matos Ferreira Bernardo
Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
Ambiente & Sociedade
Braskem
Mental Health
Mining
Anxiety
Depression
title Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
title_full Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
title_fullStr Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
title_full_unstemmed Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
title_short Mining Disaster in Maceió-AL: Assessing the Health Impact on the Victims
title_sort mining disaster in maceio al assessing the health impact on the victims
topic Braskem
Mental Health
Mining
Anxiety
Depression
url http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1414-753X2025000100301&lng=en&tlng=en
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