Environmental geochemistry studies in the area of Idrija mercury mine, Slovenia

Five centuries of mining and processing of mercury ore in the Idrija area have resulted in widespread contamination of different environmental compartments. Environmental impacts on a regional and local scale, caused by atmospheric emissions from the Idrija ore roasting plant, were established in the investigations of mercury spatial distribution in soil and attic dust in 160 km(2) area. Very high values were determined in the Idrijca River valley, and they decrease exponentially with the distance from Idrija. Mercury concentrations in attic dust are higher than in surrounding soils and the attic dust/soil ratio changes with distance. Measurements of mercury in the air confirmed widespread dispersion of mercury and showed highly elevated mercury concentrations around roasting plant and mine ventilation shaft. Beside, systematic monitoring of mercury contents in the stream sediments has demonstrated that huge amounts of mercury are stored in areas where ancient overbank sediments were deposited, and there was no decrease in mercury concentration in active sediments during the last 15 years. Recently, interesting and extremely polluted locations of historical small-scale roasting sites in the Idrija surroundings were discovered. Ongoing geochemical study aims to determine the extreme pollution and significance of these sites for wider contamination of soils and aquatic systems. Presented studies have shown that Hg mining in Idrija caused intense pollution of local and regional environment including the aquatic systems in the Gulf of Trieste, which is seen as the final sink of a major part of the Hg stored in soils and river sediments in the Idrija area.     

Environmental geochemistry studies in the area of Idrija mercury mine,Slovenia

Five centuries of mining and processing of mercury ore in the Idrija area have resulted in widespread contamination of different environmental compartments. Environmental impacts on a regional and local scale, caused by atmospheric emissions from the Idrija ore roasting plant, were established in the investigations of mercury spatial distribution in soil and attic dust in 160 km² area. Very high values were determined in the Idrijca River valley, and they decrease exponentially with the distance from Idrija. Mercury concentrations in attic dust are higher than in surrounding soils and the attic dust/soil ratio changes with distance. Measurements of mercury in the air confirmed widespread dispersion of mercury and showed highly elevated mercury concentrations around roasting plant and mine ventilation shaft. Beside, systematic monitoring of mercury contents in the stream sediments has demonstrated that huge amounts of mercury are stored in areas where ancient overbank sediments were deposited, and there was no decrease in mercury concentration in active sediments during the last 15 years. Recently, interesting and extremely polluted locations of historical small-scale roasting sites in the Idrija surroundings were discovered. Ongoing geochemical study aims to determine the extreme pollution and significance of these sites for wider contamination of soils and aquatic systems. Presented studies have shown that Hg mining in Idrija caused intense pollution of local and regional environment including the aquatic systems in the Gulf of Trieste, which is seen as the final sink of a major part of the Hg stored in soils and river sediments in the Idrija area.     

Environmental geochemistry studies in the area of Idrija mercury mine,Slovenia

Five centuries of mining and processing of mercury ore in the Idrija area have resulted in widespread contamination of different environmental compartments. Environmental impacts on a regional and local scale, caused by atmospheric emissions from the Idrija ore roasting plant, were established in the investigations of mercury spatial distribution in soil and attic dust in 160 km² area. Very high values were determined in the Idrijca River valley, and they decrease exponentially with the distance from Idrija. Mercury concentrations in attic dust are higher than in surrounding soils and the attic dust/soil ratio changes with distance. Measurements of mercury in the air confirmed widespread dispersion of mercury and showed highly elevated mercury concentrations around roasting plant and mine ventilation shaft. Beside, systematic monitoring of mercury contents in the stream sediments has demonstrated that huge amounts of mercury are stored in areas where ancient overbank sediments were deposited, and there was no decrease in mercury concentration in active sediments during the last 15 years. Recently, interesting and extremely polluted locations of historical small-scale roasting sites in the Idrija surroundings were discovered. Ongoing geochemical study aims to determine the extreme pollution and significance of these sites for wider contamination of soils and aquatic systems. Presented studies have shown that Hg mining in Idrija caused intense pollution of local and regional environment including the aquatic systems in the Gulf of Trieste, which is seen as the final sink of a major part of the Hg stored in soils and river sediments in the Idrija area.

     

贵州省典型矿区土壤重金属污染对蚯蚓的毒性效应评估

选取我国贵州省某矿区典型的重金属复合污染土壤开展28 d慢性毒性暴露试验,以蚯蚓体内2种抗氧化酶活性——过氧化氢酶(CAT)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-ODHG)和金属硫蛋白(MT)含量为生物指标,评估了以上生物指标与土壤重金属含量的相关性,探讨该研究方法用于矿区土壤重金属生态风险评估的可行性。结果表明,CAT和SOD在暴露周期内均出现先诱导后抑制的动态响应过程,表明蚯蚓通过提高CAT和SOD的活性来清除机体因污染胁迫而产生的自由基,以适应环境变化,在毒性缓解后,蚯蚓体内代谢产物的积累抑制了抗氧化氢酶活性,CAT和SOD活性下降并趋于稳定。暴露于重金属污染亚致死浓度时,蚯蚓体内的8-OHDG含量随着暴露时间的延长显著降低,随着暴露浓度的增加,损伤存在由低到高的转变。在28 d暴露周期内,蚯蚓体内MT在重金属胁迫下发挥了解毒作用,MT含量在蚯蚓暴露后第7天增加,随后逐渐降低。本文基于生物毒性试验综合评估了矿区典型重金属污染土壤的生态风险,研究结果对指导重金属复合污染土壤的修复与再利用具有重要意义。     

TCLP法评价酸性矿山废水污染稻田土壤重金属的生态风险

采用美国最新的法定重金属污染评价方法TCLP(Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure,TCLP)法对粤北大宝山矿山下游受酸性矿山废水长期污染的稻田土壤的重金属(Cd、Zn、Pb、Cu)污染状况进行评价,以国际规定的TCLP法标准评价重金属生态环境风险.结果表明,TCLP试剂提取的土壤重金属Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量分别在0.02～0.58、1.42～38.07、0.16-31.01和1.84～75.29 mg·kg-1之间.酸性矿山废水污染稻田土壤不同程度地受到Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn的污染,其中以Pb、Zn污染最为严重,其次为Cu污染,Cd污染程度最轻.     

Metal contamination of active stream sediments in upper Weardale,northern Pennine Orefield,UK

In the Upper Weardale area the headwaters of the River Wear bisect the Northern Pennine Orefield, where Pb-Zn-F-Ba vein-type mineralisation has been exploited since the Roman Conquest. The area contains evidence of open pit, underground and hydraulic mining of base metal ores, associated mineral processing and smelting, exploitation of ironstones during the industrial revolution, recent extraction of fluorite and active quarrying. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of modern sediment contamination arising from these past activities. Samples of active stream sediments were collected from all major drainage channels at 1 km intervals. The sediments were analysed for Pb, Zn, Ba, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, As, Sb, Ag and compared to data from earlier regional geochemical surveys of low order drainage samples using ArcView software. The significance of contamination levels was assessed using the Ontario aquatic sediment quality guidelines. Our results indicate widespread contamination of some major drainages by Pb, Mn, Zn and As at concentration levels anticipated to significantly affect use of the sediments by benthic organisms. Furthermore, Pb contamination shows persistence in stream sediments downstream towards agricultural areas of the floodplain and drinking water abstraction points, above which interaction with colliery mine water discharges may occur.     

Contamination of Surface Soils, River Water and Sediments by Trace Metals from Copper Processing Industry in the Churnet River Valley, Staffordshire, UK

The impacts of a functional and a demolished copper processing works on the aquatic and terrestrial environment in the vicinity of the works was investigated by determining the levels of selected trace metals in river water, river sediments, channel margin sediments and overbank soils. Samples were taken at five sites within an area of the Churnet Valley in Staffordshire, where the River Churnet flows through the two works. Analysis of river water samples by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) has shown that only copper is present above background levels considered to typify uncontaminated rivers. Analysis of river sediments, channel margin sediments and overbank soils by nitric-perchloric acid digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis has indicated contamination by arsenic, cadmium and copper in the vicinity of both works. Arsenic and copper are deposited primarily within the aquatic environment, although some contamination of the terrestrial environment by copper is also observed. Cadmium is deposited primarily within the terrestrial environment. The deposition of arsenic and copper in river and channel margin sediments respectively is also related to current and historical contamination.     

矿区周围土壤中重金属危害性评估研究

分别用总量法和连续萃取法对广东大宝山矿周围土壤、植物和沉积物中重金属的总量和化学形态进行了详细分析。结果发现，矿山废水流入的横石河沉积物中Pb、Zn、Cu和Cd的质量分数分别为1841．02、2326．28、1522．61和10.33mg／kg；经此河水灌溉的稻田中重金属(Cu、Cd、Pb和Zn)的质量分数也远远超出了土壤环境二级标准值，其中Cu、Cd超标倍数分别为14．01和4．17倍。结果还表明，生长在矿区周围的植物也受到不同程度重金属的污染且不同植物吸收和积累重金属的能力相差很大。用Tessier连续法对土壤中重金属进行萃取发现，虽然重金属主要存在于残余态中，但在Fe-Mn氧化态、有机结合态中的质量分数也很高．说明这些土壤确实受到了有毒有害重金属元素的严重污染。     

湘南4个矿区稻田As污染状况的初步调查

通过实地调查以及土壤和水稻样品分析,研究了湘南郴州柿竹园铅锌矿、郴州界牌岭锡多金属矿、衡阳水口山有色金属矿、衡阳龙王山金矿4个矿区稻田的As污染状况.结果表明:4个矿区的稻田土壤和水稻植株均已受到严重的As污染.矿区稻田土壤As含量范围为30.0～225.7mg·kg-1,超过国家土壤环境质量3级标准;水稻根系、秸秆、谷壳、糙米As含量范围分别为115.6～588.2、4.19～20.88、1.388～5.374、0.214～0.892mg·kg-1,除部分糙米样品外,均超过我国食品中As限量卫生标准.矿区稻田土壤同时受到As和重金属的复合污染,综合污染指数(P)范围为0.76～13.12.矿区稻田的As污染主要由矿产的开采和冶炼造成,其中,水口山有色金属矿区和龙王山金矿区As污染以及As和重金属复合污染最为严重,柿竹园铅锌矿区污染面积较大,界牌岭锡多金属矿区由于发生过地质灾害改变了地表面貌,污染情况更为复杂.     

Trace elements distributions at Datoko-Shega artisanal mining site,northern Ghana

Environmental geochemistry classifies elements into essential, non-essential and toxic elements in relationship to human health. To assess the environmental impact of mining at Datoko-Shega area, the distributions and concentrations of trace elements in stream sediments and soil samples were carried out. X-ray fluorescence analytical technique was used to measure the major and trace element concentrations in sediments and modified fire assay absorption spectrometry in soils. The results showed general depletion of major elements except titanium oxide (TiO₂) compared to the average crustal concentrations. The retention of TiO₂ at the near surface environment probably was due to the intense tropical weathering accompanied by the removal of fine sediments and soil fractions during the harmattan season by the dry north-east trade winds and sheet wash deposits formed after flash floods. The results also showed extreme contamination of selenium (Se), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), plus strong contaminations of arsenic (As) and chromium (Cr) in addition to moderate contamination of lead (Pb) in the trace element samples relative to crustal averages in the upper continental crust. However Hg, Pb and Cd concentrations tend to be high around the artisanal workings. It was recognised from the analysis of the results that the artisanal mining activity harnessed and introduces some potentially toxic elements such as Hg, Cd and Pb mostly in the artisan mine sites. But the interpretation of the trace element data thus invalidates the elevation of As concentrations to be from the mine operations. It consequently noticed As values in the mine-impacted areas to be similar or sometimes lower than As values in areas outside the mine sites from the stream sediment results.

     

刁江沿岸土壤重金属污染特征研究

受上游矿山开发的影响，刁江沿岸存在明显的As、Pb、Zn、Cd复合污染带，其污染区与洪水淹没区呈现高度的一致性；水田的犁底层对重金属具有明显的隔断作用，而旱地的淀积层中的重金属质量分数依然很高；上游地带土壤污染呈显性状态，土壤中尾砂沉积现象十分明显，而下游地带的土壤污染呈隐性状态，土壤中尾砂沉积现象不明显；蜈蚣蕨可以作为刁江沿岸土壤污染区的指示植物；土壤中Zn与Cd质量分数存在显著相关关系，表层土壤As与Pb质量分数呈现较好的相关性，而土壤垂直剖面中As与Pb质量分数除个别剖面外，相关关系不显著。     

Assessment of the environmental conditions of the Sarno river basin (south Italy): a stream sediment approach

The Sarno river basin covers an area of 500 km² collecting the waters of Solofrana and Cavaiola tributaries. Originally it manly represents a source of livelihood for inhabitants by fishing and transporting goods; currently, the Sarno river, still partially used for irrigation, is affected by an extreme environmental degradation as a result of uncontrolled outflow of industrial waste. Within the framework of a wider geochemical prospecting project aiming at characterizing the whole territory of the Campania region, 89 stream sediment samples with a sampling density of 1 sample per 5 km² were collected in the river basin and analyzed by means of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in order to assess the environmental conditions at a regional scale. A GIS-aided technique, based on both the actual distribution of potentially harmful elements and their regional background values, was used to generate the maps of the contamination factors and of the contamination degrees for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn. Furthermore, a factor analysis was performed to assess the nature and the extent of contamination sources for the river sediments. Results showed that the Sarno river basin could be divided in two “environmental status” units: one, low contaminated, corresponding to the hilly and mountain areas, and the second, from moderately to very highly contaminated, corresponding to the economically developed areas of the valley floor characterized by a high population density. This work was developed within a project that aims to investigate the relationships between environmental pollution and human health by analyzing environmental media (stream sediments, water, soil and vegetation) together with human hair of resident population. In this context, the spatial correlation between the extremely compromised environmental conditions of developed areas and the incidence rate of liver cancer in the same area was also explored posing the need of a careful costs/benefits analysis to assess whether the deterioration of the environment, that could adversely affect the conditions of public health, is worth the economic development.     

典型铜尾矿库周边土壤重金属复合污染特征

应用了Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法、相关分析法、主成分分析法对德兴铜矿尾砂库周边土壤Cu、Zn、Ni、Pb、Cr和Cd复合污染特征进行研究,定量确定了铜尾矿库潜在生态风险程度、主要污染因子和潜在生态风险因子。结果表明：铜矿尾矿库周边土壤受到不同程度的重金属污染,该地区平均潜在生态风险污染指数超过600,具有极高的潜在生态风险;各重金属潜在生态风险参数由高至低顺序为Cd、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn,其中Cd为主要潜在生态风险因子。进一步通过主成分分析法研究了重金属的污染特性,发现前3个主成分贡献率分别为：65．033％、18．825％、6．243％,第一主成分反映了Zn、Ni、cr的信息,第二主成分反映了Cu和Cd的信息,第三主成分反映Pb的信息。     

矿冶区周边水稻对不同来源重金属污染的指示作用

有色金属开采与冶炼可对周边环境造成严重的重金属污染,查明重金属污染来源对于矿冶周边重金属污染管理与控制具有重要意义.为探索利用矿冶周边水稻对As、Cd、Pb、Zn和Cu的富集与水稻体内元素的含量平衡特征指示重金属污染来源的可行性,选择了我国著名的水口山Pb-Zn矿山开采与冶炼周边区,根据重金属污染排放和迁移扩散特征,结合当地气象和地貌条件,确定了3个典型采样区,其中两个采样区分别邻近冶炼厂和尾砂库,另一处为位于两者之间的过渡区.采用蛇形采样法在稻田内采集33个成熟水稻及土壤样品,分析水稻不同部位(包括根、茎叶、籽粒)及土壤中As、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu5种重金属和其他16种元素的含量.结果表明,3个采样区之间土壤中的As、Cd、Pb、Zn和Cu含量均存在显著性差异;各采样区水稻中除根际和籽粒中Cd含量外,各部位重金属含量也均有显著差异.靠近冶炼厂的水稻茎叶中As、Pb含量高于离冶炼厂较远的采样区水稻茎叶.尽管As、Pb在靠近尾砂库采样区土壤中含量最高,但在该区水稻茎叶中的含量却最低;在除As、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu5种重金属以外的其他16种元素中,水稻根部仅有5种元素含量在各采样区之间存在差异,指示相同的土地利用类型及土壤母质条件;而在茎叶和籽粒中则分别有多达11和10种元素含量出现采样区差异,指示重金属污染来源影响水稻茎叶及籽粒中元素的含量平衡.多元统计分析结果显示,3个采样区水稻茎叶中元素含量平衡存在显著的分异,显示出明显的采样区属性.结合采样区域空间位置、污染物来源、水稻对重金属的富集与转运特征分析,3个采样区重金属主要污染特征可分别确定为水-气混合来源型、大气来源型和尾砂来源型.论文结果证明利用水稻茎叶指示矿冶周边重金属污染来源是可行的.     

Trace metals accumulation in soil irrigated with polluted water and assessment of human health risk from vegetable consumption in Bangladesh

Trace metals accumulation in soil irrigated with polluted water and human health risk from vegetable consumption was assessed based on the data available in the literature on metals pollution of water, soil, sediment and vegetables from the cites of Bangladesh. The quantitative data on metal concentrations, their contamination levels and their pollution sources have not been systematically gathered and studied so far. The data on metal concentrations, sources, contamination levels, sample collection and analytical tools used were collected, compared and discussed. The USEPA-recommended method for health risk assessment was used to estimate human risk from vegetable consumption. Concentrations of metals in water were highly variable, and the mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and As in water were found to be higher than the FAO irrigation water quality standard. In most cases, mean concentrations of metals in soil were higher than the Bangladesh background value. Based on geoaccumulation index (I _geo) values, soils of Dhaka city are considered as highly contaminated. The I _geo shows Cd, As, Cu, Ni, Pb and Cr contamination of agricultural soils and sediments of the cities all over the Bangladesh. Polluted water irrigation and agrochemicals are identified as dominant sources of metals in agricultural soils. Vegetable contamination by metals poses both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to the public. Based on the results of the pollution and health risk assessments, Cd, As, Cr, Cu, Pb and Ni are identified as the priority control metals and the Dhaka city is recommended as the priority control city. This study provides quantitative evidence demonstrating the critical need for strengthened wastewater discharge regulations in order to protect residents from heavy metal discharges into the environment.     

Heavy metal contamination in river water and sediments of the Swarnamukhi River Basin,India: risk assessment and environmental implications

The concentration of heavy metals was analyzed each of 20 river water, suspended sediments and bed sediments along the stretch of Swarnamukhi River Basin. River water is not contaminated with heavy metals except Fe and Mn. Contamination factor in sediments shows considerable to very high degree contamination with Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. The sources of these metals could be residential wastes, sewer outfall, fertilizers, pesticides (M-45 + carbondine) and traffic activities apart from natural weathering of granitic rocks present in the basin area. Principal component analyses indicate the interaction between metals in different media. The comparison of metals (Cu, Pb and Zn) in bed sediments of Swarnamukhi River with the Indian and world averages indicates that the values obtained in the basin are above the Indian averages and far below to the world averages. Average shale values and sediment quality guidelines point toward the enrichment and contamination of Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn to several fold leading to eco-toxicological risks in basin.     

中国城市土壤重金属污染研究现状及对策

中国城市土壤重金属污染的主要来源是工业“三废”排放，金属采矿和冶炼，家庭燃煤，生活垃圾，汽车尾气排放。重金属在城市土壤中的分布规律表现为城市土壤重金属含量高于郊区，人类活动密集区和交通拥挤区重金属含量较高；人类活动的干扰导致土壤剖面重金属污染特征不明显。应采取预防与治理相结合的措施综合控制土壤重金属污染，并加紧制定我国的城市土壤健康评价标准。     

Metal contamination of soils and dusts in Seoul metropolitan city,Korea

To investigate the dispersion patterns and the characteristics of heavy metal contamination due to urbanisation and industrialisation, soils and dusts collected from the Seoul area were analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd. The metal concentrations in most soils and dusts are higher than the world averages. The pollution index (( Metal concentrations in soils/Permissible level for metal)÷(Number of metals)) of soils and dusts is > 1 in most of the Seoul area, a result that concurs with the industrialisation and urbanisation index of the Seoul area. The soils are contaminated with Cu, Zn, Cd and particularly Pb. This suggests that the contamination of the soils in the Seoul area are mainly caused by vehicular emissions. The pollution index of soil is the highest in the Kuro area where Cu and Zn contamination in soils are due to the indigenous brass and bronze factories. From the discriminant analysis, the Seoul area may be partitioned into control, traffic and industrialized areas by the metal concentrations in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb.     

Variations in heavy metal contamination of stream water and groundwater affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine in Korea

This study evaluated variations in heavy metal contamination of stream waters and groundwaters affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine, where a rockfill dam for water storage will be built 11 km downstream. For these purposes, a total of 10 rounds of stream and groundwater samplings and subsequent chemical analyses were performed during 2002–2003. Results of an exploratory investigation of stream waters in 2000 indicated substantial contamination with heavy metals including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and arsenic (As) for at least 6 km downstream from the mine. Stream waters near the mine showed metal contamination as high as arsenic (As) 8,923 μg L⁻¹, copper (Cu) 616 μg L⁻¹, cadmium (Cd) 223 μg L⁻¹ and lead (Pb) 10,590 μg L⁻¹, which greatly exceeded the Korean stream water guidelines. Remediation focused on the mine tailing piles largely improved the stream water qualities. However, there have still been quality problems for the waters containing relatively high concentrations of As (6–174 μg L⁻¹), Cd (1–46 μg L⁻¹) and Pb (2–26 μg L⁻¹). Rainfall infiltration into the mine tailing piles resulted in an increase of heavy metals in the stream waters due to direct discharge of waste effluent, while dilution of the contaminated stream waters improved the water quality due to mixing with metal free rain waters. Levels of As, Cu and chromium (Cr) largely decreased after heavy rain but that of Pb was rather elevated. The stream waters were characterized by high concentrations of calcium (Ca) and sulfate (SO₄), which were derived from dissolution and leaching of carbonate and sulfide minerals. It was observed that the proportions of Ca and SO₄ increased while those of bicarbonate (HCO₃) and sodium and potassium (Na+K) decreased after a light rainfall event. Most interestingly, the reverse was generally detected for the groundwaters. The zinc, being the metal mined, was the most dominant heavy metal in the groundwaters (1758–10,550 μg L⁻¹) near the mine, which far exceeded the Korean standard of 1000 μg L⁻¹ for drinking water. The decreases in the heavy metals contents in the groundwaters associated with reduced rainfall were quite different from the increases observed for the stream waters, which is not clearly understood at this time and warrants further investigation.     

Bioaccessible lead in soils, slag, and mine wastes from an abandoned mining district in Brazil

We determined the amount of bioaccessible lead in samples of contaminated soils and in mining and refining wastes collected in the surroundings of a former smelter in a rural area in south-eastern Brazil. Previous studies showed that some resident children and adults had blood Pb levels above recommended limits, but the contamination route was not established. The incidental ingestion of contaminated soils and dusts is considered to be a major route of lead uptake by humans. Bioavailability of heavy metals like Pb depends on solubility during digestion. We used in vitro tests that simulate human gastrointestinal (GI) media to measure the amount of soluble Pb under such conditions. Pb in soil and solid waste samples ranged from 0.03 to 4.1% and 1.2 to 15%, respectively. On average, 70% of the lead content was soluble in three different simulated gastric solutions (pH 1.5 and 1.7). For the same samples, lead solubility decreased to 2–22% when the pH was raised to pH 7 to approximate conditions found in the small intestine. These results indicate that if soils and dusts of the area are ingested, most of the lead will dissolve in the stomach, and part of it will remain soluble in the duodenum, i.e., would be potentially available for absorption. These findings may explain the high blood Pb levels previously reported.