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Ettler V, Křížová T, Mihaljevič M, Drahota P, Racek M, Kříbek B, Vaněk A, Penížek V, Zádorová T, Sracek O, Mapani B. Contaminant bioaccessibility in abandoned mine tailings in Namibia changes along a climatic gradient. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2025; 27:1088-1102. [PMID: 40130350 DOI: 10.1039/d5em00060b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/26/2025]
Abstract
Fine-grained dust from tailing storage facilities in abandoned sulfide-ore mining areas represents an important source of environmental contamination. Fine fractions (<48 μm and <10 μm) of tailings from three old mining sites situated along a climatic gradient from hot semiarid to cold desert conditions in Namibia were studied: Kombat (Cu-Pb-Zn; rainfall ∼500 mm), Oamites (Cu; ∼120 mm), Namib Lead & Zinc (Pb-Zn; ∼0 mm). Multi-method mineralogical and geochemical investigations were adopted to assess the binding and gastric bioaccessibility of the metal(loid)s and to evaluate the associated human health risks. The total concentrations of contaminants in the tailings generally increased with the decreasing particle size (up to 134 mg As kg-1, 14 900 mg Cu kg-1, 8880 mg Pb kg-1, 13 300 mg Zn kg-1). The mean bioaccessible fractions varied substantially between the sites and were significantly higher for the tailings from the sites with a higher rainfall (73-82% versus 22%). The mineralogical composition of the tailings, reflecting the original mineralogy and the degree of the weathering process, is the main driver controlling the bioaccessibility of the metal(loid)s. In desert environments, metal(loid)s in tailings are bound in sulfides or sequestered in secondary Fe oxyhydroxides and/or Fe hydroxysulfates, all of which are insoluble in simulated gastric fluid. In contrast, tailings from areas with higher precipitation contain metal(loid)s hosted in carbonate phases (malachite, cerussite), which are highly soluble under gastric conditions. Based on the higher contaminant bioaccessibility, the vicinity of the settlement and farmlands, and a higher percentage of wind-erodible fine particles, a higher risk for human health has thus been identified for the Kombat site, where further remediation of the existing tailings storage facility is highly recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Ettler
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Tereza Křížová
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Mihaljevič
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Drahota
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Prague 2, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Racek
- Institute of Petrology and Structural Geology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, 128 00 Prague, 2, Czech Republic
| | - Bohdan Kříbek
- Czech Geological Survey, Geologická 6, 152 00 Prague 5, Czech Republic
| | - Aleš Vaněk
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Vít Penížek
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Zádorová
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Protection, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Ondra Sracek
- Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Palacký University in Olomouc, 17. listopadu 12, 771 46 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Ben Mapani
- Department of Civil, Mining and Process Engineering, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
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Qiu S, Xie B, Liao J, Luo J, Liu X, He L, Huang Y, Peng L. Blood trace elements in association with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk, aggressiveness and prognosis in a high incidence region of China. Sci Rep 2025; 15:5208. [PMID: 39939385 PMCID: PMC11822019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-89060-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2025] [Indexed: 02/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Toxic elements exposure and imbalance in essential element homeostasis remain incomprehensive in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) carcinogenesis, especially in tumor progression. To reveal the toxic and essential elements inside body associated with ESCC occurrence, aggressive features and outcomes, whole blood concentrations of eight trace elements were quantified in 150 ESCC cases and 177 controls using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), and selenium (Se) showed significant differences between the case and control subjects. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis showed As, Zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) was linked with ESCC risk in a U-shaped pattern, whereas an inverted U-shaped curve for Cd (all P-non-linear < 0.05). Contrary to Se, the elements Pb, Cr and Cu were positively associated with ESCC risk. By Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression models, the mixtures of the eight trace elements were found to be significantly associated with ESCC risk and metastasis, with Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Pb having a PIP of 1.000 for occurrence risk and Mn being the main contributor for metastatic risk (PIP = .6570). The weighted quantile sum (WQS) model consistently showed that Cu, Cr, Pb, and Cd ranked as the top four positive elements for ESCC risk. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated Pb and As were positively associated with tumor invasion (adjusted OR 3.024 [1.053-8.689]; OR 4.385 [1.271-15.126], respectively), whereas Se had the opposite trend (adjusted OR 0.261 [0.074-0.927). Patients with high Cr, Mn, or Pb showed worse overall survival (OS), and high Mn were linked to inferior progression-free survival (PFS) (all P < 0.05). Zn and Pb, and Mn and Cu were identified as independent prognostic factors for OS and PFS, respectively. This study suggests trace element disbalance in human body contributes to the risk of onset and progression of ESCC, especially in a high-incidence region. Further epidemiological and experimental studies were needed to clarify the probable pathogenic processes underpinning the potential link between trace element mixtures and ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Qiu
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingmeng Xie
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiahui Liao
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianan Luo
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Liu
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China
| | - Lihua He
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiteng Huang
- Health Care Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lin Peng
- Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 7 Raoping Road, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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Ettler V, Waldhauserová J, Drahota P, Tuhý M, Mihaljevič M, Racek M. Metal(loid)s and their bioaccessibility in urban soils from residential areas of a medieval mining town. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2025; 47:64. [PMID: 39891773 PMCID: PMC11787173 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02339-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2024] [Accepted: 12/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2025]
Abstract
In historic mining towns, where mining activities were abandoned many decades or even centuries ago, legacy contaminations can be remobilized and redispersed, representing a threat for the environment and human health. This study focuses on urban soils (n = 19) in the town of Jihlava, the Czech Republic, one of the medieval centers of silver mining in central Europe. The basic geochemical characterization of the soils was combined with mineralogical investigations to understand the solid speciation of the metal(loid) contaminants, oral bioaccessibility tests, and exposure assessment. The total concentrations of the metal(loid)s in the original soils were not excessively high (up to 45.8 mg As/kg, 19.2 mg Cd/kg; 205 mg Cr/kg; 91.8 mg Cu/kg, 163 mg Pb/kg, 253 mg V/kg, 262 mg Zn/kg), although, in some cases, they exceeded the regulatory guidelines for agricultural and/or residential soils. A substantial increase in the metal(loid)s contents was confirmed for the < 48-µm soil fraction that was later used for the bioaccessibility tests. Scanning electron microscopy and the electron microprobe showed that ore-derived primary sulfides were rare in the studied soils. Still, hydrous ferric oxides rich in Cu, Pb and Zn and fragments of metallurgical slags composed of metal-containing glass and silicates (olivine) were prone to dissolution during extraction in a simulated gastric fluid (SGF, glycine solution acidified to pH 1.5 by HCl). The maximum bioaccessible concentrations corresponded to 4.69 mg As/kg, 1.75 mg Cd/kg, 2.02 mg Cr/kg, 20.3 mg Cu/kg, 81.6 mg Pb/kg, 16.2 mg V/kg, and 233 mg Zn/kg. Exposure estimates were carried out for children (10 kg) as a target group and a conservative soil ingestion rate (100 mg/d). However, the daily intake of all the studied contaminants was far below the tolerable limits. Our results show that the human health risk based on incidental soil ingestion in the studied area seems limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vojtěch Ettler
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic.
| | - Jitka Waldhauserová
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Drahota
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Tuhý
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), GPO Box 1700, Canberra,ACT, Australia
| | - Martin Mihaljevič
- Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Racek
- Institute of Petrology and Structure Geology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague, 128 00, Czech Republic
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Parviainen A, Rosca C, Rondon D, Casares Porcel M, Martín-Peinado FJ. Assessment of atmospheric pollution by potentially toxic elements in the urban areas of the Riotinto mining district. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 363:142906. [PMID: 39043272 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
Ore mineralizations in bedrock and their exploitation may have a negative impact on air quality of surrounding urban areas and, subsequently, on human health. This study uses lichens as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution to evaluate the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the towns close to the massive sulfide deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) in SW Spain. Altogether 89 native lichen samples of Xanthoria parietina were collected from the mining towns, control towns out of the reach of the mining activity, as well as from distal sampling sites. The samples were analyzed for 29 elements after acid digestion. The concentrations for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, W, Tl, Pb, S, and Fe are significantly higher in the mining towns in comparison to the control towns. The ore mineral-associated PTEs, including Cu, Zn, As, Ba, and Pb, exhibit extreme concentrations in the urban areas close to the mining activity, and particularly in the small settlement of La Dehesa next to the mineral processing plant and the tailings pond. The distal samples confirm the decrease in the concentrations of all PTEs, and these samples present similar values as in the control areas. The results, point at increased bioaccumulation of PTEs in the lichen thalli of the adjacent urban areas, suggesting that the air quality of the adjacent urban areas is locally impacted by the massive polymetallic sulfide deposits which is enhanced by the mining activity. Therefore, monitoring the urban air quality is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annika Parviainen
- Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Avda. Fuente Nueva s/n, E-18071, Granada, Spain.
| | - Carolina Rosca
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC), Avda. de las Palmeras 4, E-18100, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Deyanira Rondon
- Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (CSIC), Avda. de las Palmeras 4, E-18100, Armilla, Granada, Spain.
| | - Manuel Casares Porcel
- Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Botánica, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, E-18071, Granada, Spain.
| | - Francisco José Martín-Peinado
- Universidad de Granada, Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Avda. Fuente Nueva s/n, E-18071, Granada, Spain.
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Buch AC, Sims DB, de Ramos LM, Marques ED, Ritcher S, Abdullah MMS, Silva-Filho EV. Assessment of environmental pollution and human health risks of mine tailings in soil: after dam failure of the Córrego do Feijão Mine (in Brumadinho, Brazil). ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:72. [PMID: 38367120 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-01870-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The dam failure of the Córrego do Feijão Mine (CFM) located in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, killed at least 278 people. In addition, large extensions of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems were destroyed, directly compromising the environmental and socioeconomic quality of the region. This study assessed the pollution and human health risks of soils impacted by the tailing spill of the CFM dam, along a sample perimeter of approximately 200 km. Based on potential ecological risk and pollution load indices, the enrichments of Cd, As, Hg, Cu, Pb and Ni in soils indicated that the Brumadinho, Mário Campos, Betim and São Joaquim de Bicas municipalities were the most affected areas by the broken dam. Restorative and reparative actions must be urgently carried out in these areas. For all contaminated areas, the children's group indicated an exacerbated propensity to the development of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic diseases, mainly through the ingestion pathway. Toxicological risk assessments, including acute, chronic and genotoxic effects, on people living and working in mining areas should be a priority for public management and mining companies to ensure effective environmental measures that do not harm human health and well-being over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Cristhy Buch
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Baptista, S/N., Centro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, 24020-007, Brazil.
| | - Douglas B Sims
- Department of Physical Sciences, College of Southern Nevada, North Las Vegas, NV, 89030, USA
| | - Larissa Magalhães de Ramos
- Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology Engineering, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, 82590-300, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Duarte Marques
- Service Geological Survey of Brazil/Company of Research of Mineral Resources (SGB/CPRM), Belo Horizonte Regional Office, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30140-002, Brazil
| | - Simone Ritcher
- Researcher of Paraná Center of Reference in Agroecology, Estrada da Graciosa, Pinhais, Paraná, 6960, 83327-055, Brazil
| | - Mahmood M S Abdullah
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Emmanoel Vieira Silva-Filho
- Department of Environmental Geochemistry, Fluminense Federal University, Outeiro São João Baptista, S/N., Centro, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, 24020-007, Brazil
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Yang C, Hao Y, Wang H. Antimony and naphthalene can be simultaneously leached from a combined contaminated soil using carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin as a biodegradable eluant. RSC Adv 2023; 13:12742-12749. [PMID: 37114031 PMCID: PMC10126743 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra00581j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we have investigated the removal efficiency of antimony (Sb) and naphthalene (Nap) from a combined contaminated soil by carboxymethyl-β-cyclodextrin (CMCD) leaching and reveal its remediation mechanisms by FTIR and 1H NMR analyses. The results show that the highest removal efficiencies of Sb and Nap were 94.82% and 93.59%, respectively, with a CMCD concentration of 15 g L-1 at a pH of 4 and a leaching rate of 2.00 mL min-1 over an interval-time of 12 h. The breakthrough curves show that CMCD had a stronger inclusion capacity of Nap than Sb, and Sb could enhance the adsorption capacity of Nap, while Nap weakened the adsorption of Sb during CMCD leaching. Furthermore, the FTIR analysis suggests that the removal of Sb from combined contaminated soil involved complexation with the carboxyl and hydroxyl groups on CMCD, and the NMR analysis suggests that the inclusion of Nap occurred. These results indicate that CMCD is a good eluant for remediating soil contaminated by a combination of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and its remediation mechanisms depend on the complexation reactions between the surface functional groups and inclusion reactions in the internal cavities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University Shanghai 200092 China +86-21-65986313 +86-21-65983869
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University 1239 Siping Road Shanghai 200092 China
| | - Yanzhang Hao
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University Shanghai 200092 China +86-21-65986313 +86-21-65983869
| | - Hanyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment of the Ministry of Education, Tongji University Shanghai 200092 China +86-21-65986313 +86-21-65983869
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