Study Reveals Health Risks from Bananas Grown in Contaminated Brazilian Soils
Researchers from the University of São Paulo and other institutions have identified potential health risks associated with consuming bananas, cassava, and cocoa grown in soils contaminated by the Fundão dam collapse in Brazil. The study, published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health, found elevated levels of toxic elements such as cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, and lead in the soil, which are absorbed by the plants. These elements pose a significant health risk, particularly to children under six, due to their higher concentration in the edible parts of the plants. The research highlights the movement of these elements from contaminated soil into plants, raising concerns about food safety in the affected regions. 
