浙江省铅锌矿区土壤重金属污染及重金属超富集植物筛选

分别以浙江省境内富阳某铅锌矿区(FY)、淳安某铅锌矿区(CA)、诸暨某铅锌矿区(ZJ)和三门某铅锌矿区(SM)为研究对象,对铅锌矿区土壤的Zn、Pb、Cu、Cd 4种重金属污染状况及其上生长的16种优势草本植物的重金属富集特征进行了研究。结果表明,FY、ZJ和SM的土壤均受Cd、Zn、Pb重度污染,而CA的土壤受Cd、Zn、Cu重度污染。4个铅锌矿区的Cd污染最严重,其次为Zn污染。CA的伴矿景天(Sedum plumbizincicola)和ZJ的紫花香薷(Elsholtzia argyi)地上部Cd质量浓度分别为571.2、218.7mg/kg,且富集系数和转运系数均超过1,达到了Cd超富集植物的标准,表明这两种植物均可能是Cd超富集植物。     

锑矿区土壤重金属污染及优势植物对重金属的富集特征

通过野外调查采样,分析了冷水江锑矿区4个采样点土壤和优势植物中重金属含量,以及矿区生长的5种优势植物对Sb、As、Cd、Pb、Cu和Zn的的吸收与富集能力及其富集特性。结果表明,矿区土壤中6种重金属元素的平均含量均超出湖南省土壤背景值和全国土壤背景值,土壤受Sb污染最严重,其次是Cd、As的污染。5种优势植物淡竹叶、苎麻、芒草、狗尾草和白背叶体内Sb、As的含量都超过正常范围,具有修复矿区土壤Sb、As污染的潜力。其中苎麻对Sb的富集系数和转运系数均大于1,满足Sb超富集植物的基本特征,可作为生态恢复的先锋植物;芒草对Cd的富集系数和转运系数都大于1,对重金属有较强的耐性,作为重金属污染的修复植物具有较好的应用前景。     

兰坪铅锌矿区不同污染梯度下优势植物的重金属累积特征

对兰坪铅锌矿区污染程度不同的3个样地(云南松林、魁蒿群落和马桑灌丛)进行植被调查,选择其中9种共有的自然生长的优势草本植物为研究对象,测定了土壤及植物体的重金属含量。结果显示,3个样地土壤Cu、Cd、Pb和Zn等4种重金属含量均表现为马桑灌丛>魁蒿群落>云南松林;植物体内重金属积累呈现出随着土壤污染程度增加而增加的趋势;所选择的9种植物均不符合超富集植物的标准,依据不同的耐性机制将9种植物分为3类,野棉花能较强吸收土壤中重金属,并转移到地上部分,属于富集型植物;西南金丝梅、倒提壶、长籽柳叶菜、魁蒿、翻白叶和四脉金茅吸收的重金属主要积累在根部,属于根部囤积型植物;尼泊尔蓼和中华山蓼体内重金属含量较低,属于规避型植物。讨论了利用这些植物进行矿山治理。     

不同土地利用方式下土壤养分和重金属元素垂直分布特征

为探讨不同土地利用方式下土壤养分和重金属元素垂直分布特征,对2种母质的自然土壤、耕作土壤、休耕土壤养分和重金属元素垂直分布状况进行了比较研究。结果表明:不同土地利用方式下土壤表层养分元素含量总体表现为休耕土壤耕作土壤自然土壤,土壤表层重金属含量总体表现为农田土壤(耕作土壤和休耕土壤)自然土壤,耕作土壤与休耕土壤差异较小,土壤淀积层到母质层养分和重金属元素差异逐渐减小;土壤养分元素和Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd随土层深度的增加而减小,而Cr表现出相反的趋势;农田土壤耕作层有效钾含量最高可达215.6 mg·kg~(-1);耕作层Cd含量最高可达0.74 mg·kg~(-1)。3种土地利用方式中,休耕土壤养分和重金属含量相对较高,建议在休耕期间种植伴矿景天等重金属高积累植物进行植物修复。     

铅锌冶炼厂周边重金属的空间分布及生态风险评价

以关中西部某铅锌厂周边农田为对象,研究了厂区周边土壤中7种重金属含量的水平及垂直分布特征,用Lars Hakanson潜在生态危害指数对重金属的危害程度进行了评价.研究表明,厂区周围土壤中重金属在水平分布上具有局部高度富集的特征.以厂区为中心,重金属水平分布主要在西北-东南方向上,地势低的土壤中重金属含量明显较高;重金属在垂直分布上主要富集在0～ 25 cm的表层土壤中,且随着深度的进一步增加,土壤中重金属浓度变化幅度减弱,基本趋于稳定.厂区周边Cd和Hg污染水平为重度污染,Pb污染水平为中度污染,潜在生态危害程度为重度.     

小兴安岭地区环境中的重金属

小兴安岭地区人烟稀少,植被发育较好,受人类活动影响较小。1984年我们对该区土壤、植物、水体中Fe、Mn、Zn、Cr、Cu、Co、Cd、As、Ni、Pb10种重金属元素进行了调查研究,探讨不同环境要素之间以及沉积物中不同元素之间的关系。 一、小兴安岭地区环境中的重金属 本文研究了小兴安岭地区土壤、植物和水体中的重金属,土壤主要是暗棕色森林土,植物采用本区优势树种红松(Pinus ko-raiensis)、蒙古栎(Quereus mongolica)、糠椴(Tiliamand shurica)和兴安白桦(Betula plalyphylla),水体包括河水和河底沉积物.为了研究土壤与植物中元素含量关系,土壤和植物同步采样。 1.土壤中重金属含量特征 暗棕色森林土是重要的林业土壤资源,在小兴安岭地区,其分布面积约占土壤总面     

湘西花垣县兴银锰业周边土壤重金属污染评价及优势植物蓄积特征

为了解湘西花垣县兴银锰业周边土壤重金属污染状况及优势植物蓄积特征,采集了当地空心莲子草(Alternanthera philoxeroides)、窃衣(Torilis scabra)、商陆(Phytolacca acinosa Roxb.)、五月艾(Artemisia indica)、蒿草(Kobresia)、川莓(Rubus setchuenensis)等6种优势植物,根际土壤及5~10 m范围内未长植物的裸露土壤进行了研究。结果表明,研究区土壤主要存在Pb、Zn、Cu、Mn、Cd等污染,土壤中Fe、Cr污染程度处于相对安全等级,裸露土壤单因子污染指数和内梅罗综合污染指数高于根际土壤;6种优势植物对重金属的富集量未超出临界值,对重金属具有较强的转运能力;植物根际土壤中真菌、细菌、放线菌数分别为裸露土壤中真菌、细菌、放线菌数的1.19~2.19倍、1.33~1.72倍、1.02~1.52倍。     

上海市桃浦垃圾填埋场封场植被的重金属吸收和积累特征

城市垃圾填埋场的生态修复问题越来越受到重视,选择合适的封场植被对生态恢复至关重要。本研究对上海市桃浦垃圾填埋场的土壤和29种优势植物的重金属含量进行检测,结果显示,该填埋埋场土壤呈现Zn和Cd的中度复合污染。在研究的优势植物中,杨树、雪松和夹竹桃吸收Zn的能力较强,杨树、紫薇、金丝桃吸收Cd的能力较强。荆芥表现为重金属Zn的富集型植物;龙葵表现为重金属Cd的富集型植物;麦冬和狗尾巴草则表现为重金属的根部囤积型植物。可综合选择这些植物用于城市垃圾填埋场的植物修复和植被恢复。     

典型重金属污染地区蔬菜中重金属含量及健康风险

在大冶市典型重金属污染地区,选择罗家桥街办作为污染区、茗山乡作为对照区,通过采集土壤和蔬菜样品,分析5种重金属(Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Pb)的含量,评价重金属对当地居民的健康风险,评价参数根据当地居民调查得到。结果表明,污染区土壤样品的5种重金属的平均值均高于背景值,对照区土壤样品的5种重金属的平均值与背景值差异不显著或低于背景值。污染区蔬菜样品的5种重金属的平均值也基本都高于对照区。因此,污染区土壤已经受到了重金属的污染,对照区土壤几乎未受到重金属的污染。健康风险评价结果表明,污染区人群面临着非致癌风险和致癌风险,而对照区健康风险较小。从年龄层看,对非致癌风险抵抗力最弱的是儿童,而对致癌风险抵抗力最弱的是成人。污染区最主要的风险元素是Cd和As。     

灯心草部分生理生化指标对土壤复合重金属胁迫的响应

通过盆栽试验,以叶绿素含量和POD、SOD、CAT3种抗氧化酶活性作为观测指标,研究了Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn和As复合重金属胁迫下灯心草部分生理生化指标的变化趋势和机理.结果表明,灯心草的生理毒害效应呈明显的剂量-效应关系.表现为与对照相比,叶绿素含量减少,叶绿素a/b值降低,叶片失绿现象明显.随着复合重金属胁迫浓度的增加,灯心草3种酶活性均呈先升后降的变化趋势,但出现抗性酶活性高峰所对应的重金属浓度不同,表现出不同的特征变化趋势.总体来说,在接近土壤环境质量标准低浓度设计范围内,酶活性有逐渐被激活的趋势.但在高浓度水平下,酶活性普遍受到抑制.生长在铅锌尾矿和模拟矿毒水污染土壤中的灯心草叶绿素合成受到显著抑制(P＜0.05),但POD和CAT两种酶活性均高于对照.     

Assessment of bacterial communities and characterization of lead-resistant bacteria in the rhizosphere soils of metal-tolerant Chenopodium ambrosioides grown on lead-zinc mine tailings

Bacterial communities in the rhizosphere soils of metal tolerant and accumulating Chenopodium ambrosioides grown in highly and moderately lead-zinc mine tailings contaminated-soils as well as the adjacent soils with low metal contamination were characterized by using cultivation-independent and cultivation techniques. A total of 69, 73, and 83 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) having 84.8-100% similarity with the closest match in the database were detected among high, moderate, and low-contamination soil clone libraries, respectively. These OTUs had a Shannon diversity index value in the range of 4.06-4.30. There were 9, 10, and 14 bacterial genera specific to high, moderate, and low metal-contaminated soil clone libraries, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Pb-resistant isolates belonged to 8 genera. Pseudomonas and Arthrobacter were predominant among the isolates. Most of the isolates (82-86%) produced indole acetic acid and siderophores. More strains from the highly metal-contaminated soil produced 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase than the strains from the moderately and lowly metal-contaminated soils. In experiments involving canola grown in quartz sand containing 200 mg kg⁻¹ of Pb, inoculation with the isolated Paenibacillusjamilae HTb8 and Pseudomonas sp. GTa5 was found to significantly increase the above-ground tissues dry weight (ranging from 19% to 36%) and Pb uptake (ranging from 30% to 40%) compared to the uninoculated control. These results show that C. ambrosioides harbor different metal-resistant bacterial communities in their rhizosphere soils and the isolates expressing plant growth promoting traits may be exploited for improving the phytoextraction efficiency of Pb-polluted environment.     

An extensive review on restoration technologies for mining tailings

Development of mineral resources and the increasing mining waste emissions have created a series of environmental and health-related issues. Nowadays, the ecological restoration of mining tailings has become one of the urgent tasks for mine workers and environmental engineers all over the world. Aim of the present paper is to highlight the previous restoration techniques and the challenges encountered during the restoration of mine tailings. As it is a common practice that, before restoring of tailings, the site should be evaluated carefully. Studies showed that the mine tailings’ adverse properties, including excessive heavy metal concentration, acidification, improper pH value, salinization and alkalization, poor physical structure and inadequate nutrition, etc., are the major challenges of their restoration. Generally, four restoration technologies, including physical, chemical, phytoremediation, and bioremediation, are used to restore the mining tailings. The working mechanism, advantages, and disadvantages of these techniques are described in detail. In addition, selection of the suitable restoration techniques can largely be carried out by considering both the economic factors and time required. Furthermore, the ecosystem restoration is perceived to be a more promising technology for mine tailings. Therefore, this extensive review can act as a valuable reference for the researchers involved in mine tailing restoration.     

Impact of gold mining associated with mercury contamination in soil,biota sediments and tailings in Kenya

This work considered the environmental impact of artisanal mining gold activity in the Migori–Transmara area (Kenya). From artisanal gold mining, mercury is released to the environment, thus contributing to degradation of soil and water bodies. High mercury contents have been quantified in soil (140 μg kg^?1), sediment (430 μg kg^?1) and tailings (8,900 μg kg^?1), as expected. The results reveal that the mechanism for transporting mercury to the terrestrial ecosystem is associated with wet and dry depositions. Lichens and mosses, used as bioindicators of pollution, are related to the proximity to mining areas. The further the distance from mining areas, the lower the mercury levels. This study also provides risk maps to evaluate potential negative repercussions. We conclude that the Migori–Transmara region can be considered a strongly polluted area with high mercury contents. The technology used to extract gold throughout amalgamation processes causes a high degree of mercury pollution around this gold mining area. Thus, alternative gold extraction methods should be considered to reduce mercury levels that can be released to the environment.     

Estimation of mercury content in tailings of the gold mine area of Poconé, Mato Grosso,Brazil

As in many other parts of the world, gold is produced in the surface mining region of Poconé, Mato Grosso, Brazil, using mercury. The goal of this investigation was to estimate the amount of mercury in certain tailings and to determine the area of the land that has been contaminated by the gold mining operations. Mercury concentrations from 2 to 495 ng/g (dw) were determined in the tailing materials. It was observed that only isolated sites were acting as central points of contamination. Using digital Landsat satellite data (The-matic Mapper) and aerial photos, the sites degraded by the mining were classified, and their total area was estimated to be 12.3 km² in the region of Poconé. It was estimated, that 4.9 km² were occupied by the contaminated tailings. The mean height of the pile slags was determined to be 4.5 m. From the experimentally calculated average density of the material in the tailings, 2.01 g/cm³, the total mercury content in the piles of tailings was estimated to be 1600 ± 350 kg.     

Mining tailings and alkali activation: a comprehensive bibliometric review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Significant amounts of mining tailings are generated and disposed of every year in dams, leading to potentially serious environmental and safety...     

Soil acidity determines the effectiveness of an organic amendment and a native bacterium for increasing soil stabilisation in semiarid mine tailings

Unstable mine tailings are vulnerable to water and air erosion, so it is important to promote their surface stabilisation in order to avoid the spread of heavy metals. In a greenhouse experiment, we assessed the effect of the addition of Aspergillus niger-treated sugar beet waste and inoculation with a native bacterium, Bacillus cereus, on the stabilisation of soil aggregates of two acidic, semiarid mine tailings, with different acidity degree, during watering and drying periods. Organic amendment raised the pH of both the moderately and highly acidic tailings, whereas the bacterial inoculation increased this parameter in the former. Only the amendment addition increased soil water-soluble carbon in both tailings compared with their controls, under either watering or drying conditions. Both the amendment and B. cereus enhanced water-soluble carbohydrates. Both treatments increased dehydrogenase activity and aggregate stability, particularly in the moderately acidic tailing under drying conditions. After soil drying, aggregate stability was increased by the amendment (about 66% higher than the control soil) and by the bacterium (about 45% higher than the control soil) in the moderately acidic tailing. The effectiveness of these treatments as structure-stabilisation methods for degraded, semiarid mine ecosystems appears to be restricted to tailings of moderate acidity.     

Heavy metal contamination from mining sites in South Morocco: 1. Use of a biotest to assess metal toxicity of tailings and soils

Our work was conducted to investigate the heavy metal toxicity of tailings and soils collected from five metal mines located in the south of Morocco. We used the MetPAD biotest Kit which detects the toxicity specifically due to the heavy metals in environmental samples. This biotest initially developed to assess the toxicity of aquatic samples was adapted to the heterogeneous physico-chemical conditions of anthropogenic soils. Contrasted industrial soils were collected from four abandoned mines (A, B, C and E) and one mine (D) still active. The toxicity test was run concurrently with chemical analyses on the aqueous extracts of tailings materials and soils in order to assess the potential availability of heavy metals. Soil pH was variable, ranging from very acidic (pH 2.6) to alkaline values (pH 8.0-8.8). The tailings from polymetallic mines (B and D) contained very high concentrations of Zn (38,000-108,000 mg kg(-1)), Pb (20,412-30,100 mg kg(-1)), Cu (2,019-8,635 mg kg(-1)) and Cd (148-228 mg kg(-1)). Water-extractable metal concentrations (i.e., soil extracts) were much lower but were highly toxic as shown by the MetPAD test, except for soils from mines A, E and site C3 from mine C. The soil extracts from mine D were the most toxic amongst all the soils tested. On this site, the toxicity of soil water extracts was mainly due to high concentrations of Zn (785-1,753 mg l(-1)), Cu (1.8-82 mg l(-1)) and Cd (2.0-2.7 mg l(-1)). The general trend observed was an increase in metal toxicity measured by the biotest with increasing available metal contents in tailings materials and soils. Therefore, the MetPAD test can be used as a rapid and sensitive predictive tool to assess the heavy metal availability in soils highly contaminated by mining activities.     

Distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in tailings,soils, and plants around Gol-E-Gohar iron mine,a case study in Iran

This study investigated the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) including Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, and Zn in 102 soils (in the Near and Far areas of the mine), 7 tailings, and 60 plant samples (shoots and roots of Artemisia sieberi and Zygophylum species) collected at the Gol-E-Gohar iron ore mine in Iran. The elemental concentrations in tailings and soil samples (in Near and Far areas) varied between 7.4 and 35.8 mg kg^?1 for As (with a mean of 25.39 mg kg^?1 for tailings), 7.9 and 261.5 mg kg^?1 (mean 189.83 mg kg^?1 for tailings) for Co, 17.7 and 885.03 mg kg^?1 (mean 472.77 mg kg^?1 for tailings) for Cu, 12,500 and 400,000 mg kg^?1 (mean 120,642.86 mg kg^?1 for tailings) for Fe, and 28.1 and 278.1 mg kg^?1 (mean 150.29 mg kg^?1 for tailings) for Ni. A number of physicochemical parameters and pollution index for soils were determined around the mine. Sequential extractions of tailings and soil samples indicated that Fe, Cr, and Co were the least mobile and that Mn, Zn, Cu, and As were potentially available for plants uptake. Similar to soil, the concentration of Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, and Zn in plant samples decreased with the distance from the mining/processing areas. Data on plants showed that metal concentrations in shoots usually exceeded those in roots and varied significantly between the two investigated species (Artemisia sieberi > Zygophylum). All the reported results suggest that the soil and plants near the iron ore mine are contaminated with PTEs and that they can be potentially dispersed in the environment via aerosol transport and deposition.     

The hydrogeology of a tailings impoundment formed by central discharge of thickened tailings: implications for tailings management

The Kidd Creek Cu–Zn sulfide mine is located near Timmins, Ontario. Mill tailings are thickened and deposited as a slurry in a circular impoundment with an area of approximately 1200 ha. Deposition of tailings as a thickened slurry from a central discharge ramp results in a conical-shaped tailings deposit with low perimeter dykes, a uniform grain-size distribution, uniform and low hydraulic conductivity, and a tension-saturated zone above the water table up to 5 to 6 m thick. These characteristics provide benefits over conventionally disposed tailings with respect to tailings management. The thick tension-saturated zone within the tailings limits the thickness of unsaturated tailings that are susceptible to rapid sulfide oxidation. The conical shape of the deposit results in the formation of a recharge area near the centre of the impoundment and discharge in the peripheral areas. In contrast, the elevated nature of many conventional, unthickened tailings impoundments results in recharge over most of the surface of the impoundment, with discharge occurring outside the impoundment through large containment dykes. Three-dimensional pore water flow modelling suggests that approximately 90% of the total discharge from the thickened tailings occurs within the tailings impoundment. When discharge is confined within the impoundment, there is improved control over low-quality effluent, and an opportunity to design passive control measures to reduce treatment costs and minimize environmental impacts.     

Study on macro-meso mechanical properties of cemented tailings backfill with high fly ash content

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The use of cement and fly ash (FA) to prepare cemented tailings backfill (CTB) lowers backfill mining costs while also reducing pollution caused by...