Heavy metals in iron ore tailings and floodplain soils affected by the Samarco dam collapse in Brazil.

In November 2015, the Fundão Dam collapsed releasing about 35 million m of iron ore tailings into the environment, which covered approximately 15 km of floodplain soils. Four years later, there is still great concern and controversy regarding contamination by heavy metals in the affected areas. Thus, the present study sought to evaluate the heavy metal contents and its distribution in tailings and non-affected soils.