The crude oil slick continues to hit the country's main beaches, and in Maranhão 11 have been affected since the chemical pollutant approached the Brazilian coast.

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In Brazil, oil slicks have already been found on 113 beaches in the Northeast region alone, and eight states have been affected, according to a survey by the Brazilian Institute for the Environment (Ibama), released last Sunday, September 29th.

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The IBAMA survey also reveals that 13 animals were affected by the pollutant, and nine turtles and one bird were found dead or died after the rescue.

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In Maranhão, some beaches had confirmation of traces of oil stains, such as the beaches of Itatinga, in the municipality of Alcântara, located 30 km from São Luís, São Marcos (in the capital of Maranhão), Ilha dos Poldros, in the Parnaíba Delta (MA), in Araioses, where a sea turtle was found dead.

A sea turtle covered in oil was found on Alcântara beach in the afternoon of September 22nd. The animal was rescued, washed and then returned to the sea.

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IBAMA investigation

The agency does not yet know how to specify the origin of the pollutant, but claims that it does not come from Brazil, as it is a crude oil, and the country does not produce this type of pollutant.

The suspicion is that this type of oil has been dumped by foreign oil tankers passing along the Brazilian coast. The possibility that one of the vessels cleaned the tanks and dumped the tailings into the sea, creating a slick of crude oil that is reaching the beaches of the Northeast. This type of cleaning is not allowed, but there are ships that still do.

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affected animals
1st/9 – 1 sea turtle – Sabiaguaba Beach, Fortaleza (CE) – dead
4/9 – 2 sea turtles – Praia do Paiva, Cabo de Santo Agostinho (PE) – dead
7/9 – 1 small silly bird – Praia de Cumbuco, Caucaia (CE) – dead
9/11 - 1 sea turtle - Praia de Jacumã, Ceará-Mirim (RN) - alive
9/16 – 1 sea turtle – Poldos Island, Aroises (MA) – dead
22/9 – 1 sea turtle – Itatinga Beach, Alcântara (MA) – alive
22/9 – 1 sea turtle – Praia da Redinha Nova, Extremoz (RN) – dead
9/23 – 1 sea turtle – Praia da Redinha Nova, Extremoz (RN) – alive
9/24 – 1 sea turtle – Jericoacoara, Jijoca de Jericoacoara (CE) – dead
09/28 – 1 sea turtle – Ilha Grande, Ilha Grande (PI) – dead

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In Lençóis Maranhenses, Ibama visited two cities: Tutoia and Barreirinhas. The agency has been in several locations and beaches collecting oil, which will also undergo an inspection to find out if it is the same that has been affecting the beaches of the Northeast. One of the places visited was Atins, in Barreirinhas.

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Instituto Amares launched a campaign on Instagram to identify and rescue animals, with a number that answers collect calls: 98 98836-1717/98 98120-1281.

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Who investigates?
In addition to IBAMA, an agency directly linked to the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), the Fire Department of the Federal District (DF), the Brazilian Navy and Petrobras are investigating the evolution of oil slicks.

About 100 people will be summoned by Petrobras to start cleaning the affected beaches. Ibama asked Petrobras for this support to try to minimize the impacts of the environmental accident.

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Is it bad for your health?

Ibama advises bathers and fishermen not to touch or step on the polluting material, which is classified as Class D by the National Council for the Environment (Conama), a category that also includes hazardous waste such as paint, solvents and other oils.

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