Percepção do risco ambiental de uma população exposta a atividade de mineração no semiárido nordestino

Abstract

Anthropic actions, such as mining, are responsible for the release of toxic waste into the environment, constituting one of the main forms of environmental contamination. In this perspective, the present study aimed to evaluate the risk perception of a population that resides and / or works in a community located within the area of a scheelite exploration mine located in the Semi-arid region of the state of Rio Grande do Norte. For that, we used an on-site interview and the application of a semi-structured questionnaires in 90 individuals belonging to the Brejuí Mine community. The results showed a population with a high level of schooling, in which more than half of the interviewed workers described safe practices for the handling of toxic substances in the workplace. Regarding environmental quality, 82.2% showed concern about the environment and 62.2% perceived a lack of attention to the environmental issue. However, most of the interviewees did not present knowledge about the main impact of the mining activity, which is the release of heavy metals into the environment. After analyzing the results regarding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) versus schooling; and when relating concern with the environment versus higher level of schooling, a statistically significant association was observed, ratifying the influence of schooling on the behavior of the population in relation to environmental concerns. On the other hand, there was no association between other variables, especially when associated with exposure to toxic agents and chronic diseases, such as neoplasias. It is important to emphasize that the reduction of vulnerability factors contributes to the management of the associated risks, serving as a subsidy for decision making process aimed at minimizing the environmental impact resulting from the extractive activity. In this way, managers and community will be the social actors in the preservation of the environment impelling a sustainable development.