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Liu Y, Wei L, Wu Q, Luo D, Xiao T, Wu Q, Huang X, Liu J, Wang J, Zhang P. Impact of acid mine drainage on groundwater hydrogeochemistry at a pyrite mine (South China): a study using stable isotopes and multivariate statistical analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 45:771-785. [PMID: 35312930 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-022-01242-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Combining environmental isotope analysis with principal component analysis can be an effective method to discriminate the inflows and sources of contamination in mining-affected watersheds. This paper presents a field-scale study conducted at an acid mine drainage (AMD)-contaminated site adjacent to a pyrite mine in South China. Samples of surface water and groundwater were collected to investigate transport in the vadose zone using stable isotopes of oxygen (δ18O) and hydrogen (δD) as environmental tracers. Principal component analysis of hydrogeochemical data was used to identify the probable sources of heavy metals in the AMD. The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was applied to evaluate the pollution status of heavy metals in the groundwater. The groundwater associated with the Datai reservoir was recharged by atmospheric precipitation and surface water. On the side near the AMD pond, the groundwater was significantly affected by the soluble metals produced by pyrite oxidation. The concentrations of some metals (Al, Mn, and Pb) in all of the samples exceed the desirable limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (Guidelines for drinking-water quality, 4th edn. World Health Organization, Geneva, 2011). Among them, the concentration of Al is more than 30,000 times higher than the desirable limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (2011), and the concentration of Mn is more than 3000 times higher. The HPI values based on these heavy metal concentrations were found to be 10-1000 times higher than the critical pollution index value of 100. These findings provide a reference and guidance for research on the migration and evolution of heavy metals in vadose zone water in AMD-contaminated areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Linkoping University-Guangzhou University Research Center on Urban Sustainable Development, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lezhang Wei
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Linkoping University-Guangzhou University Research Center on Urban Sustainable Development, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qinghua Wu
- Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute, Wuhan, 430010, China
| | - Dinggui Luo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qihang Wu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xuexia Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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Wang J, Huang Y, Beiyuan J, Wei X, Qi J, Wang L, Fang F, Liu J, Cao J, Xiao T. Thallium and potentially toxic elements distribution in pine needles, tree rings and soils around a pyrite mine and indication for environmental pollution. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154346. [PMID: 35259386 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the distributions of thallium (Tl), and other potential toxic elements, such as Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Sr, As, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Mn in needles, tree rings and soils of pine trees in one of the largest pyrite mining areas in the world, i.e., Yunfu, China were investigated. The results showed that pseudo-total Tl concentration of the tree rings ranged from 0.41 to 2.03 mg/kg (average: 1.12 mg/kg) during the year of 1998 to 2011. This indicates an overall obvious enrichment of Tl. Further investigation of element level variations in the pine needles showed a negative correlation between Tl content and the distance from the mining area. The results of Principal Component Analysis additionally demonstrated that Tl in the tree rings was most likely derived from the pine needles. Notably, Tl contents in the tree rings exhibited generally similar distribution pattern to the annual production intensity of Yunfu pyrite mining activities. The findings suggest that metal(loid)s in particular of Tl in pine tree rings can be used as alternative proxies to approximatively reconstruct the chronological change of atmospheric environmental pollution induced by pyrite associated mining/smelting activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radionuclides Pollution Control and Resources, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Yeliang Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jingzi Beiyuan
- School of Environment and Chemical Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xudong Wei
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jianying Qi
- South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), Guangzhou 510655, China
| | - Lulu Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Fa Fang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Juan Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Jielong Cao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China; State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, China
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Liu Y, Wei L, Luo D, Xiao T, Lekhov A, Xie X, Huang X, Su X. Geochemical distribution and speciation of thallium in groundwater impacted by acid mine drainage (Southern China). CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 280:130743. [PMID: 33975235 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 04/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Thallium (Tl) commonly occurs in shallow groundwater affected by acid mine drainage (AMD); however, our knowledge of the occurrence of Tl in shallow groundwater is limited. This study observes that the shallow groundwater in an AMD-impacted area in Southern China contains an elevated Tl concentration (22 μg/L) under the oxidizing conditions and a low Tl concentration (<1 μg/L) in the reducing environment. The groundwater Tl concentration is positively correlated with oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) and negatively correlated with Cl content. The modelling results of the Tl species demonstrate that Tl+, TlSO4-, TlCl, and TlNO3 are the main forms of Tl in groundwater. Tl may precipitate as Tl(OH)3 under weakly acidic to alkaline conditions. Drill-core analysis of wells indicates that the Tl content in the vadose zone is equal to the background soil Tl content under oxidizing conditions. However, under artificial reducing conditions, the Tl content at the 3-4 m depth below the groundwater level ranges from 1.6 to 3.5 μg/g. This finding demonstrates that Tl solute in groundwater migrates into the aquifer when redox conditions change. Mn-oxides and illite in the weak permeable aquifer are the key minerals for Tl adsorption; some major sites of illite start to uptake Tl from pH 8.0. This study highlights not only the geochemical distribution of Tl in groundwater but also the influences of changes in redox conditions caused by human activities on Tl enrichment in groundwater. Enhancing our understanding of the aqueous geochemistry of Tl is of significance for the prevention and control of Tl pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Linkoping University-Guangzhou University Research Center on Urban Sustainable Development, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lezhang Wei
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Linkoping University-Guangzhou University Research Center on Urban Sustainable Development, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Dinggui Luo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Tangfu Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Aleksei Lekhov
- Department of Hydrogeology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, GSP-1, Leninskie Gory, Moscow, 119899, Russia
| | - Xianming Xie
- Guangdong Hydrogeology Battalion, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xuexia Huang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiaotong Su
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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Depth-Dependent C-N-P Stocks and Stoichiometry in Ultisols Resulting from Conversion of Secondary Forests to Plantations and Driving Forces. FORESTS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/f12101300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Stocks and stoichiometry of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in ultisols are not well documented for converted forests. In this study, Ultisols were sampled in 175 plots from one type of secondary forest and four plantations of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana Lamb.), Slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.), Eucalypt (Eucalyptus obliqua L’Hér.), and Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn., 1782) in Yunfu, Guangdong province, South China. Five layers of soil were sampled with a distance of 20 cm between two adjacent layers up to a depth of 100 cm. We did not find interactive effects between forest type and soil layer depth on soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations and storages. Storage of SOC was not different between secondary forests and Eucalypt plantations, but SOC of these two forest types were lower than that in Litchi, Masson pine, and Slash pine plantations. Soil C:P was higher in Slash pine plantations than in secondary forests. Soil CNP showed a decreasing trend with the increase of soil depth. Soil TP did not show any significant difference among soil layers. Soil bulk density had a negative contribution to soil C and P stocks, and longitude and elevation were positive drivers for soil C, N, and P stocks. Overall, Litchi plantations are the only type of plantation that obtained enhanced C storage in 0–100 cm soils and diverse N concentrations among soil layers during the conversion from secondary forests to plantations over ultisols.
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