Toxicity politics

Coexistence and hypointervention practices in a continuously polluted area

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2021.2.35559

Keywords:

Toxicity politics, Risk, Hypointerventions, Slow violence

Abstract

This paper analyzes the strategies and hypointerventions used by Fercal residents in the Federal District, Brazil, to deal with the ubiquitous, uneven and continuous presence of airborne particulate matter (PTS) air pollution, derived from the operation of two cement plants. Votorantim Cimento and Cimento Planalto (Ciplan). The research was operationalized through 30 semi-structured interviews between 2017 and 2018. Taking into account the slow and continuous character of this type of toxicity, we highlight the relations of asymmetry, feelings of distrust and frustration with insolubility. the air pollution between population, factories and the public authorities, indicating that cleaning practices, community care and negotiations made directly with the companies were ways found by the public to remain with some quality of life in an unhealthy place.

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Author Biography

Carolina Faraoni Bertanha, Universidade de Brasília, ( UnB), Brasília, DF, Brasil.

Mestre em Sociologia, bacharel e licenciada em Ciências Sociais pela Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brasil; doutoranda do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia da mesma instituição.

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Published

2021-08-24

How to Cite

Bertanha, C. F. (2021). Toxicity politics: Coexistence and hypointervention practices in a continuously polluted area. Civitas: Journal of Social Sciences, 21(2), 320–333. https://doi.org/10.15448/1984-7289.2021.2.35559