Accidents involving economic activities of great impact, such as mining, have caused massive environmental damage. In November 2015, the dam of Fundão, located in the city of Mariana, MG, broke and released 5 × 10⁷ m³ of tailings in the nearby ecosystems, including the Doce River. The physicochemical changes that occurred in the Doce River estuary were analyzed, as well as the trace metal concentrations, both 1 day before and 1 month after the disaster. The analyses of the collected samples (water and sediment) showed changes to the physicochemistry regarding dissolved oxygen, SPM, and temperature (p = 0.008, 0.001, 0.036, respectively). It also detected metals (Fe and Al) in the dissolved fraction beyond the limits recommended by the Brazilian legislation. There was an increase in the total concentrations of Fe and Cd in the sediment after the rupture of the dam and a change in mobile metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn), with higher concentrations of mobile metals being found closer to the ocean (p = 0.06356). After the rupture of the dam, there was a change in the granulometric fraction of the sediment, which became composed mainly of silt and clay. All of the results showed a change on the Doce River estuary, caused by the arrival of the tailings, which can result in future harmful effects with the release of metals present in the sediment and adsorbed to the particles. The changes to the sediment, such as changes in the granulometric fraction, can have negative consequences for the benthic community.

涉及采矿等重大经济活动的事故已造成严重的环境破坏。2015年11月，位于密苏里州马里亚纳市的Fundão大坝溃坝，并在附近的多斯河等生态系统中释放了5×10 ⁷  m ³的尾矿。分析了灾难前1天和灾难后1个月在Doce河口发生的物理化学变化以及痕量金属浓度。对收集的样品（水和沉积物）的分析表明，有关溶解氧，SPM和温度的物理化学变化（p 分别为0.008、0.001、0.036）。它还检测到溶解部分中的金属（铁和铝）超过了巴西法律建议的限制。大坝破裂后，沉积物中Fe和Cd的总浓度增加，而活动金属（Al，Cd，Cr，Cu，Fe，Ni，Pb和Zn）的变化改变了，在靠近海洋的地方发现了移动金属（p = 0.06356）。大坝破裂后，沉积物的粒度级发生了变化，该沉积物主要由淤泥和粘土组成。所有结果都表明，由于尾矿的到来，导致了Doce河口的变化，这可能会导致未来的有害影响，包括沉积物中存在的金属的释放以及被颗粒物的吸附。沉积物的变化（例如粒度分数的变化）可能会对底栖生物群落产生负面影响。