Socioenvironmental impacts, risks and vulnerability related to coal production in Criciúma/SC (Brazil)

• Main Authors: Teresinha Maria Gonçalves, Francisco de Assis Mendonça
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal do Paraná 2007-12-01
• Series: Revista Raega: O Espaço Geográfico em Análise
• Subjects: Riscos; impactos; vulnerabilidades; abordagem socioambiental; Risks; impacts; vulnerabilities; socio; environmental approach
• Online Access: http://revistas.ufpr.br/raega/article/view/8276

The central theme of the present study is the socioenvironmentalconflict that occurs in the carboniferous area of Santa Catarina.The Criciúma’s region is the principal production pole locatedin the south region of the State and, at the same time, is one ofthe larger areas of production of mineral coal in the country. Theproblems related to the exploration activities and processing ofthis mineral generate serious impact, socio-environmental risksand vulnerability in the area. Among the principal problemsthat can be observed are the hydrical processes, air, and soilpollution, and the degradation of the regional fauna and flora.Associated with this degradation there are some diseases, whichhave affected the local and regional population, particularly thepoorest inhabitants, whose exposure to getting larger and largerrisks and vulnerabilities.