Environmental Crime Investigation in Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Tannery and Shoe Factory Waste Landfill Case Study

摘要

In Brazil, the criminal prosecution is defined by laws as well as crimes, including crimes against the environment, which cannot exist without being previously stated by law. Pollution is defined as a crime when it reaches levels that may damage or are already damaging human health. Investigation of environmental crimes, especially pollution crimes, requires environmental forensics' knowledge to provide accurate scientific evidence. The present case study was carried out in an area under suspicion of potential pollution situation-a landfill site containing hazardous waste of tannery and shoe factories, located in Arroio do Meio, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The work methodology, adapted from the traditional crime scene examination, included the detailed description of the area. Further examinations were the quantification and characterization of the probable pollution source; gathering data from preexisting analyses in biotic and abiotic environmental compartments; and sampling and analyses of animal tissues, water, and sediments. Despite Cr being known as the major pollutant in tannery wastes, the analyses in environmental media pointed no significant Cr contamination in the area. The pollution crime by health endangerment can be defined if any discharge from substances increases environmental concentrations of elements or substances above limits regulated in legislation to protect human health. Evidence for this is provided by groundwater analyses where Pb, a well known toxic metal, appeared in concentrations above those defined as maximum concentration allowed by the potable water regulation.