Fundão dam collapse in the Rio Doce Basin, Minas Gerais

bibliometric analysis of the socio-environmental impacts resulting from the tragedy

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2025.1304

Keywords:

Fundão dam, Socio-environmental impacts, Bibliometrics, Dam failure, Rio Doce basin

Abstract

Objective. To carry out a bibliometric study in order to characterize, typify and relate the socio-environmental impacts of the Fundão dam collapse in the Doce River basin in the state of Minas Gerais, paying attention to compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals, especially with regard to environmental preservation and social justice. Method. It relies on bibliometric techniques to analyze a set of scientific productions focused on Atlantic Forest issues. To this end, scientific information was retrieved from the WoS and Scopus databases; the Corpus Composition Criteria were applied; the data was standardized and processed; and the data was analyzed. Results. The annual productivity of the articles showed an upward trend over the years, with a notable peak in 2022. The analysis revealed that terms such as “water quality”, “river pollution” and “species” have gained greater prominence recently. Productions linked to the impact on water and aquatic organisms have become evident, which highlights the extent of the damage and the need for actions aligned with the SDGs, such as those focused on clean water and sanitation (SDG6), life in water (SDG14) and terrestrial life (SDG15). The terms “economic” and “human health” reinforce the connection with SDG3, highlighting the public health challenges resulting from the disaster. Conclusions. In addition to the impact caused by the dam collapse, mining activity in the Doce River Basin has had negative impacts on environmental and human health over the years. The growing number of publications indicates that the scientific community is interested in and concerned about the repercussions of the disaster. Thus, environmental issues constitute an urgent agenda for public policies, efforts and commitment from all sectors of society. Therefore, the struggle of the affected communities is a mechanism for ensuring that the disaster and its impacts are not forgotten.

Author Biographies

Raimundo Nonato Macedo dos Santos, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Permanent professor in the Graduate Program in Information Science (PPGCI/UFPE), with a degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Brasília (1974), PhD (1995) and Master's degree from Université Paul Cézanne Aix Marseille III, and Postdoctoral degree from Universidad Carlos III de Madrid (2016). He is a CNPq Research Productivity Fellow, level 1B, and has served as an INEP evaluator and as Representative of the Information Science and Museology Area on the CNPq Scientific Committee between 2017 and 2020. His research focuses on areas such as scientific communication, bibliometrics, scientometrics, and research institutionalization. He has led the SCIENTIA research group since 2006 and participates in other relevant groups, such as INFOCIENT, LAPIIS, and Theoretical Foundations of Information. He is also an active member of ANCIB and ISKO Brazil, contributing significantly to the advancement of Information Science in Brazil and internationally.

Natanael Vitor Sobral, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

Bachelor's degree in Information Management from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), Specialist in Marketing Administration from the Faculty of Administrative Sciences of the University of Pernambuco (FCAP/UPE), Master's degree in Information Science from UFPE, and PhD in Information Science from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA). He is interested in information metrics studies, with an emphasis on health, information representation in scientific databases, scientific social network analysis, thematic maps, scientific and organizational management, information unit administration, decision-making indicators, innovation, and innovation indicators. He was a professor in the Department of Information Fundamentals and Processes (DFPI) at the Institute of Information Science (ICI) at UFBA (2017-2021). He is currently a professor in the Department of Information Science (DCI) at UFPE, where he serves as coordinator of the Bachelor's degree program in Information Management. He is a professor in the Graduate Program in Information Science at UFPE (Master's and Doctorate).

Dominique de Lira Vieira Corrêa, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

PhD candidate in Information Science at the Federal University of Pernambuco - UFPE (2023). Master's degree in Information Science from the same university (2016). Bachelor's degree in Library Science from the Federal University of Pernambuco - UFPE (2010). She has experience in the field of Information Science, with an emphasis on Information Dissemination Processes, working mainly on the following topics: information metrics studies, scientific production, UN Sustainable Development Goals, scientific production on the Atlantic Forest.

Ana Sara Pereira de Melo Sobral, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

PhD candidate in Information Science at the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE), starting in 2023. Master's degree in Information Science from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), 2018. Specialist in Public Library Management from Cândido Mendes University, 2013, and graduate in Library Science and Documentation from UFBA, 2011. She has been working as a librarian at the Federal Institute of Bahia since 2012 and has been on temporary assignment at UFPE since 2021. She is a member of the Scientia Research Group, Department of Information Science at UFPE.

Rinaldo Ribeiro de Melo, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco

PhD candidate and Master in Information Science in the Graduate Program in Information Science at the Federal University of Pernambuco (PPGCI/UFPE). Bachelor's degree in Library Science from the Federal University of Pernambuco. Degree in Mathematics from the University of Pernambuco (UPE). Member of the SCIENTIA Research Group (CNPq/UFPE). His research focuses on Information Metrics Studies (Altmetrics, Bibliometrics, Scientometrics, Citation Studies); Information Sources; ST&I Indicators; User Studies and ST&I Observatories, with an emphasis on university ST&I observatories.

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Published

2025-12-16

How to Cite

Santos, R. N. M. dos, Sobral, N. V., Corrêa, D. de L. V., Sobral, A. S. P. de M., & Melo, R. R. de. (2025). Fundão dam collapse in the Rio Doce Basin, Minas Gerais: bibliometric analysis of the socio-environmental impacts resulting from the tragedy. Biblios Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, (esp.), e022. https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2025.1304

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No. esp. (2025)

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Copyright (c) 2025 Raimundo Nonato Macedo dos Santos, Natanael Vitor Sobral, Dominique de Lira Vieira Corrêa, Ana Sara Pereira de Melo Sobral, Rinaldo Ribeiro de Melo

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