This study aims to assess the geological, geochemical, and toxicological aspects of aluminum in the Araçuaí-Itinga lithium district, located in the Jequitinhonha River basin, Minas Gerais, with an emphasis on potential health risks for various population groups. Geological investigation revealed a predomi-nance of aluminum-rich granites and metasediments, which serve as source and hosts for lithium--mineralized pegmatites. The study found that lithium levels pose no risk to human health, with maxi-mum concentrations of the order of approximately 0.015 mg/L in water, 78 mg/kg in soil, and 33.7 mg/kg in stream sediments. However, elevated aluminum levels, where found in over 80% of the studiedarea, with concentrations exceeding the recommended maximum of 0.1 mg/L. Water samples exhibited aluminum levels ranging from 0.200 and 0.928 mg/L, while concentrations reached 3.1% in soil, and0.96% in stream sediments. These values highlight the need for for further investigations into potentialenvironmental and human health impacts. Additionally, aluminum concentrations of 1,059 mg/kg weredetected in 12 vegetable samples. Plasma analyses of individuals living in the Igrejinha and FazendaVelha communities revealed aluminum values above the normal limit of 3 μg/L in 68% of the examinedindividuals, and in 94% of dialysis patients, indicating significant health risks for those undergoingdialysis. The primary route of aluminum for the sampled individuals was water, facilitated by itstransition from rock-to soil-to water-to food. It is estimated that approximately 3,200 people near tributaries of the Jequitinhonha River, particularly in the Valley of Córrego do Piauí, are at risk of aluminum exposure.These findings underscore the urgent need for further research and interventions to mitigate the health risks associated with aluminum exposure in these communities.Exposure of aluminum in the Araçuaí-Itinga Lithium Pegmatite District, Minas Gerais, Brazil: Contamination and toxicological effects on populations established nearby mining activities1. IntroductionThe integration of medical geology into the analysisof mining operations provides a crucial framework for understanding the complex environmental and health impacts associated with these activities, as extensively documented in academic literature (Licht 2001; Selinus et al. 2005; Singh 2004, Skinner and Berger 2003, Cortecci 2002, Finkelman et al. 2007, Dissanayake and Chandrajith 2009, Selinus et al. 2010). This interdisciplinary field bridges the gap between geoscience and public health, offering a robust foundation for the scientific investigation of how geological materials may adversely affect human health.Instances of human contamination from both natural and anthropogenic sources are well-documented across different countries, including Argentina, Bangladesh, and Chile (arsenic), China (selenium), and the United States (iodine) (Selinus 2006). in South America, the work of Figueiredo et al.
