1
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Cheney CL, Eccles KM, Kimpe LE, Lehnherr I, Blais JM. Mercury deposition to lake sediments near historic gold mines in northern Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123038. [PMID: 38030109 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123038] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in aquatic systems can lead to adverse human and environmental health outcomes. Yellowknife, a city in Canada's Northwest Territories, is a historic mining community, with two large gold mines (Giant Mine and Con Mine) that used Hg amalgamation methods to extract gold between ∼1938 and 1960. We analyzed dated sediment cores from 20 small lakes to investigate the spatial and temporal Hg deposition patterns within 50 km of Giant Mine. Breakpoint analysis of the within-lake z-score normalized anthropogenic Hg flux indicates two significant time periods of changing emission rates. The first is a significant increase in Hg deposition rate (∼1925) during the time of gold exploration in the region and onset of Hg amalgamation (1938) and the second is a significant decrease in deposition rate that begins around the time of the cessation of Hg amalgamation at Giant Mine (∼1959). Sediment Hg concentrations exceeded the Canadian Council for Ministers of the Environment Interim Sediment Quality Guideline (ISQG) for Hg (0.17 mg/kg dw) in 55% of the lakes (n = 11) during mining (1948-1999). All lakes within 5 km of the Giant Mine roaster stack exceeded CCME ISQG during mining (n = 8), with a 4-fold increase in total Hg concentration observed during mining at these near-field (<5 km from stack) sites. We observed evidence of enriched Hg in near-field, mid-field, and far-field sites. The elevated sedimentary Hg concentrations during mining in near-field sites would have posed a hazard to human and wildlife health during the height of emissions, however the significant decrease in Hg concentrations since the closure of mines in the region demonstrate the potential for recovery in these aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Cheney
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Kristin M Eccles
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Linda E Kimpe
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- University of Toronto Mississauga, Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 180 Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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2
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Wang X, Zhang F, Du J, Hong GH, Chen X. Anthropogenic As pollution mediated by submarine groundwater discharge in a marine ranch. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115681. [PMID: 37862846 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115681] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) pollution, is a global problem, threatening human health and ecological security, especially in the bay environment with dense population and human activities. Among potential pathways of As into the bay, submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) has not received adequate attention due to its invisibility. We determined As and 222Rn activity concentrations in different water mass. Spatial variation of dissolved As concentration in the groundwater was large and attributed to the adjacent local industries. By combining 222Rn mass balance modeling with As concentrations measured, the SGD-derived As fluxes was conservatively estimated to be 1310 kg As d-1 and 5880 kg As d-1 in the dry and wet seasons, respectively. The migration of arsenic may be enhanced by rainfall and dissolved carbon. The amount of SGD derived As input to the bay was greater than the total combined As input from river discharge, atmosphere, sewage drainage, and diffusion from sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxiong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Fenfen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China.
| | - Jinzhou Du
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Gi Hoon Hong
- IMBeR International Project Office, State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Xiaogang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Environment and Resources of Zhejiang Province, School of Engineering, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China
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3
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Lum JE, Schoepfer VA, Jamieson HE, McBeth JM, Radková AB, Walls MP, Lindsay MBJ. Arsenic and antimony geochemistry of historical roaster waste from the Giant Mine, Yellowknife, Canada. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:132037. [PMID: 37459758 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Historical mining and mineral processing at the former Giant Mine (Yellowknife, NT, Canada) created an enduring legacy of arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) contamination. Approximately 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide roaster waste (ATRW) generated between 1948 and 1999 remains stored on-site in underground chambers. We studied the chemical forms and phase associations of As and Sb to improve understanding of ATRW environmental behavior. Although arsenolite [As2O3] is the principal As and Sb host, we also observed minor associations of As with Fe oxides. Arsenic K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) revealed As(III) dominated ATRW, with some As(V) and As(-I) also present. Arsenic coordination and bonding is consistent with arsenolite, while scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) showed minor As association with Fe oxides and arsenopyrite [FeAsS]. Antimony K-edge XAS revealed variable proportions of Sb(III) and Sb(V), with Sb-O, Sb-Sb and Sb-As bonding consistent with stibioclaudetite [AsSbO3] or Sb-substituted arsenolite. Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) results showed variable but quantitative Sb substitution for As in arsenolite grains, possibly influencing ATRW solubility and reactivity under environmental conditions. Overall, our results reveal complex As and Sb phase associations with important implications for ongoing remediation efforts and long-term environmental fate of ATRW solids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jullieta E Lum
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Valerie A Schoepfer
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada.
| | - Heather E Jamieson
- Department of Geology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - Joyce M McBeth
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada; Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, 36 Union St, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada
| | | | - Mary P Walls
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada
| | - Matthew B J Lindsay
- Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, 114 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E2, Canada.
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4
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Chételat J, Palmer MJ, Paudyn K, Jamieson H, Amyot M, Harris R, Hesslein R, Pelletier N, Peraza I. Remobilization of legacy arsenic from sediment in a large subarctic waterbody impacted by gold mining. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 452:131230. [PMID: 36989775 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic contamination from mining poses an environmental challenge due to the mobility of this redox-sensitive element. This study evaluated arsenic mobility in sediments of Yellowknife Bay (Canada), a large subarctic water body impacted by gold mining during the 20th century. Short-term measurements of arsenic flux from sediment, arsenic profiling of the water column and sediment porewater, and mass balance modelling were conducted to assess the importance of sediment as an arsenic source. Sediment arsenic fluxes were highly variable throughout Yellowknife Bay and ranged from - 65-1520 µg m-2 day-1. Elevated fluxes measured near the mine site were among the highest published for well-oxygenated lakes. Redox boundaries were typically 2-3 cm below the sediment surface as indicated by porewater profiles of iron, manganese, and arsenic, with arsenic maxima of 65-3220 µg L-1 predominately as arsenite. Sediment arsenic flux was positively related to its solid-phase concentration. Modelling indicated sediment was a principal source of arsenic to the water column. Adsorption and precipitation processes in the oxidizing environment of near-surface sediments did not effectively attenuate arsenic remobilized from contaminated sediments. Internal recycling of legacy arsenic between sediment and surface water will impede a return to background conditions in Yellowknife Bay for decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Michael J Palmer
- North Slave Research Centre, Aurora Research Institute, Aurora College, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
| | - Katrina Paudyn
- School of Environmental Studies, Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Heather Jamieson
- School of Environmental Studies, Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Marc Amyot
- Département de Sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Reed Harris
- Reed Harris Environmental Ltd., Oakville, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Nicolas Pelletier
- Carleton University, Geography and Environmental Studies, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ines Peraza
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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5
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Cheney C, Pothier M, Thomas PJ, Sarma SN, Poulain AJ, Blais JM. Paleoecotoxicology: Developing methods to assess the toxicity of lake sediment records influenced by legacy gold mining. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 250:106248. [PMID: 35905632 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106248] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The contamination of lakes by industrial emissions is an issue of international concern. Traditional paleolimnology examines sedimentary micro-fossils to infer the biological response to natural and anthropogenic stressors over time. Here, we calculate a theoretical biological effect for historic sediment sections using Probable Effect Concentration Quotient (PEC-Q) and arsenic specific quotient methods and develop novel time-constrained sediment toxicity test methods using a cultured Daphnia sp. combined with a whole cell microbial biosensor to assess the toxicity of past industrial contamination with modern testing methods. These methods were developed using sediments collected from Pocket Lake (Northwest Territories, Canada), a lake known to have exhibited a significant ecological shift following input from nearby gold smelter emissions during the mid 20th century. We then applied these methods to near-, mid-, and far-field sites to assess the response of Daphnia sp. to varying contaminant load. Daphnia sp. mortality exposed to dated sediments indicated a strong concordance with the timing of mining activities, and a strong concordance with PEC-Q and arsenic specific toxicity quotients. In contrast, a decrease in Daphnia mortality was observed during pre-, and post-mining periods when the contaminant burden was lower. Initial assessments of bioavailability using a microbial biosensor indicated that arsenic in porewater is 72-96% bioavailable, and limited evidence that oxidative stress may contribute to the Daphnia sp. toxic response. These results indicate that lake sediment archives can be used to infer missing biomonitoring data in sites of legacy anthropogenic influence, which will be useful for those seeking to conduct cost-effective and efficient preliminary environmental risk assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Cheney
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Martin Pothier
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Philippe J Thomas
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Sailendra Nath Sarma
- National Wildlife Research Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Alexandre J Poulain
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Jules M Blais
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
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6
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Kumkrong P, Dy E, Tyo DD, Jiang C, Gedara Pihilligawa I, Kingston D, Mercier PHJ. Investigation of metal mobility in gold and silver mine tailings by single-step and sequential extractions. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:423. [PMID: 35553245 PMCID: PMC9098622 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10054-3] [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: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Metal leachate from mine tailings has the potential to release toxic metals into the surrounding environment. A single-step extraction procedure mimicking rainwater and a three-step BCR sequential extraction procedure (acid, reducing and oxidizing conditions) were applied to gold (GMT) and silver (SMT) mine tailings. Major (Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, and Mn) and trace metals were monitored to better understand the mobility and geochemistry of these metals when exposed to various environmental leaching conditions. Rainwater extraction released only small quantities of metals, while the three-step BCR extraction was more effective in mobilizing metals from the tailings. Under the acidic conditions of BCR step 1, Ca, Mg, Cd, Cu, and Mn were released in high concentrations. The dissolution of Fe, Ca, and Mg were dominant along with Pb in step 2 (reducing conditions). In step 3 (oxidizing conditions), Fe was the most dominant species together with Co, Cu, Ni, and Se. A high fraction of Al, Be, Cr, Li, Mo, Sb, Tl, and V remained in the residue. From SMT, larger quantities of As, Ca, Cd, and Zn were released compared to GMT. The BCR extraction could be applied to tailings to predict the potential release of toxic metals from mine wastes; however, excessive amounts of Ca and Fe in the tailings could cause carry-overs and incomplete extraction and carry-overs, resulting in a misinterpretation of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paramee Kumkrong
- National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada.
| | - Eben Dy
- National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Daniel D Tyo
- National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | - Cindy Jiang
- National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
| | | | - David Kingston
- National Research Council Canada, 1200 Montreal Road, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
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7
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Miller CB, Parsons MB, Jamieson HE, Ardakani OH, Patterson RT, Galloway JM. Mediation of arsenic mobility by organic matter in mining-impacted sediment from sub-Arctic lakes: implications for environmental monitoring in a warming climate. ENVIRONMENTAL EARTH SCIENCES 2022; 81:137. [PMID: 35222729 PMCID: PMC8850223 DOI: 10.1007/s12665-022-10213-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Arsenic (As) is commonly sequestered at the sediment-water interface (SWI) in mining-impacted lakes through adsorption and/or co-precipitation with authigenic iron (Fe)-(oxy)hydroxides or sulfides. The results of this study demonstrate that the accumulation of organic matter (OM) in near-surface sediments also influences the mobility and fate of As in sub-Arctic lakes. Sediment gravity cores, sediment grab samples, and porewaters were collected from three lakes downstream of the former Tundra gold mine, Northwest Territories, Canada. Analysis of sediment using combined micro-X-ray fluorescence/diffraction, K-edge X-ray Absorption Near-Edge Structure (XANES), and organic petrography shows that As is associated with both aquatic (benthic and planktonic alginate) and terrestrially derived OM (e.g., cutinite, funginite). Most As is hosted by fine-grained Fe-(oxy)hydroxides or sulfide minerals (e.g., goethite, orpiment, lepidocrocite, and mackinawite); however, grain-scale synchrotron-based analysis shows that As is also associated with amorphous OM. Mixed As oxidation states in porewater (median = 62% As (V), 18% As (III); n = 20) and sediment (median = 80% As (-I) and (III), 20% As (V); n = 9) indicate the presence of variable redox conditions in the near-surface sediment and suggest that post-depositional remobilization of As has occurred. Detailed characterization of As-bearing OM at and below the SWI suggests that OM plays an important role in stabilizing redox-sensitive authigenic minerals and associated As. Based on these findings, it is expected that increased concentrations of labile OM will drive post-depositional surface enrichment of As in mining-impacted lakes and may increase or decrease As flux from sediments to overlying surface waters. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12665-022-10213-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare B. Miller
- Centre for Ore Deposits and Earth Sciences (CODES), Department of Earth Science, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001 Australia
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Michael B. Parsons
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 1 Challenger Drive, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 4A2 Canada
| | - Heather E. Jamieson
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6 Canada
| | - Omid H. Ardakani
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 3303 - 33 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7 Canada
| | - R. Timothy Patterson
- Ottawa‐Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6 Canada
| | - Jennifer M. Galloway
- Geological Survey of Canada/Commission Géologique du Canada, Natural Resources Canada/Ressources Naturelles Canada, 3303 - 33 Street N.W., Calgary, AB T2L 2A7 Canada
- Ottawa‐Carleton Geoscience Centre, Department of Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON KIS 5B6 Canada
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8
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Yang S, Zhai W, Tang X, Gustave W, Yuan Z, Guo T, Shu Y. The Effect of Manure Application on Arsenic Mobilization and Methylation in Different Paddy Soils. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 108:158-166. [PMID: 34406464 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03317-1] [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: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Organic matter plays an important role in controlling arsenic(As) release and transformation in soil, however, little is known about the effect of manure application on As behavior in soils with different As contents. In this study, waterlogged incubations using various As-contaminated paddy soils with manure amendment were conducted to investigate how manure application influence As mobilization and methylation in different paddy soils. The results indicated that manure application increased As release in paddy soils with high As (> 30 mg kg-1) contents. Moreover, our findings also showed that manure application increased the relative abundance of arsM-harboring Euryacheota and Planctomycetes at the phylum level and arsM-harbouring Methanocellaceae, Anaerolinea and Bellinea at genus level, thereby promoting As methylation. These results provide important insights for the significant variation in As mobilization and methylation in paddy soils amended with manure. Moreover, our results suggest that serious consideration should be given to the manure application in As-contaminated paddy soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yang
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology for Industrial Pollution Control of Zhejiang Province, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
| | - Xianjin Tang
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Williamson Gustave
- School of Chemistry, Environmental & Life Sciences, University of the Bahamas, New Providence, Nassau, Bahamas
| | - Zhaofeng Yuan
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Ting Guo
- Institute of Soil and Water Resources and Environmental Science, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yingge Shu
- College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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9
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Delplace G, Viers J, Schreck E, Oliva P, Behra P. Pedo-geochemical background and sediment contamination of metal(loid)s in the old mining-district of Salsigne (Orbiel valley, France). CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 287:132111. [PMID: 34507147 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The mining district of Salsigne in the Orbiel valley (Aude, France) was at one time the first gold mine in Europe and the first arsenic mine in the world. However, no scientific studies have evaluated the magnitude of its environmental impact. In this study, the pedo-geochemical background (PGB) was determined for 14 metal (loid) elements, including As. It appears that the PGB values for As and Sb are relatively high with 44±12 and 0.9±1.2 mg kg-1, respectively, because of the geological particularities of this area. In a second step, these PGB values (normalized with Ti concentrations) were used as local references to determine enrichment factors (EFs) of bed river sediments for the Orbiel River and two of its major tributaries (Gresillou and Russec rivers) collected between November 2018 and July 2020. Results showed that riverine sediments are contaminated by past mining activity and/or current storage areas. If we except the major elements (Fe, Ti and at a lesser extent Mn), we observed that As, Cu, Sb, Pb present the highest concentrations relative to the remaining elements (Cd, Co, V, Ni and Cr). In the case of As, EFs can reach 74 in the Orbiel River, 1000 in the Gresillou River and 27 in the Russec River. These calculations were also performed for sediments transported by the extreme flood of October 14, 2018, that killed 15 people and potentially remobilized contamination in the valley. We observed that the As concentrations of suspended samples from Grésillou and Russec rivers have reached 870 mg kg-1. Finally, the As concentrations measured in the river sediments of this valley are of the same order of magnitude than those published in the literature for environments strongly impacted by mining or mineral processing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gauthier Delplace
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France
| | - Jérôme Viers
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France.
| | - Eva Schreck
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France
| | - Priscia Oliva
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, CNRS, IRD 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, Toulouse, 31400, France
| | - Philippe Behra
- Laboratoire de Chimie Agro-industrielle, LCA, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, 31030, Toulouse, France
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10
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Costa ASPN, Nascimento ALA, Botero WG, Carvalho CM, Tonholo J, Santos JCC, Anunciação DS. Interaction between humic substances and arsenic species simulating environmental conditions. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 802:149779. [PMID: 34525680 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149779] [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: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The importance of evaluating how natural organic matter influences the mobility of arsenic species in an ecosystem is an environmental concern. This work aimed to evaluate the interaction between humic substances (HS) and four arsenic species of high toxicity [As(III), As(V), MMA(V), and DMA(V)] (HS-As) under the influence of HS concentration and pH. Next, the complexing capacity (CC) of HS by As(III) was determined in function of pH, ionic strength and co-existing ions. The free arsenic (Asfree) was determined after a tangential flow ultrafiltration procedure by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The better HS-As interactions for As(III) and As(V) at pH 10.5 reached 52% and 61%, respectively. The increase in pH and ionic strength, as well as co-existing ions increased the CC, which reached 1.57 mg of As(III) g-1 HS. We proposed a HS-As interaction model based on the inner and outer binding sites of HS from these results. The inner sites were occupied through hydrogen bonds, Pearson acid-base, hydrophobic, and van der Waals interactions for trivalent arsenic species, while the interactions through the outer sites for pentavalent arsenic species were mostly by hydrogen bonds and electrostatic forces. According to ecotoxicological studies against Artemia salina, the presence of HS decreased the toxicity of As(III) and As(V) as the lethal concentration increased from 5.81 to 8.82 mg L-1 and from 8.82 to 13.37 mg L-1, respectively. From the results through the proposed model, it was possible to successfully understand the interaction dynamic between soil HS and As(III), As(V), MMA(V) and DMA(V) under simulated environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryanna S P N Costa
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Amanda L A Nascimento
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Wander G Botero
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Cenira M Carvalho
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Josealdo Tonholo
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil
| | - Josué C C Santos
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.
| | - Daniela S Anunciação
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Campus A. C. Simões, 57072-900 Maceió, AL, Brazil.
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11
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Leclerc É, Venkiteswaran JJ, Jasiak I, Telford JV, Schultz MDJ, Wolfe BB, Hall RI, Couture RM. Quantifying arsenic post-depositional mobility in lake sediments impacted by gold ore roasting in sub-arctic Canada using inverse diagenetic modelling. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 288:117723. [PMID: 34256286 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lake sediments are widely used as environmental archives to reconstruct past changes in contaminants deposition, provided that they remain immobile after deposition. Arsenic (As) is a redox-sensitive element that may be redistributed in the sediments during early diagenesis, for instance along with iron and manganese, and thus depth profiles of As might not provide a reliable, unaltered record of past deposition. Here, we use inverse diagenetic modelling to calculate fluxes of As across the sediment-water interface and interpret As sedimentary records in eight lakes along a 80 km transect from the Giant and Con mines, Northwest Territories, Canada. The sediment cores were dated using 210Pb methods and analyzed for solid-phase and porewater As, Fe, Mn and organic C concentrations. We reconstructed the history of As deposition by correcting for the varying mobility patterns and calculated contemporary As deposition fluxes. Correction for diagenesis was substantial for three of the eight lakes, suggesting that lakes with lower sedimentation rates, which allows longer residence of As within the reactive zones defined by the model, enhance the influence of diagenesis. Results show that solid phase As peaks coincides with the period of high emissions from past gold ore roasting activities. Results also show that sediments sustained present-day As fluxes to the water column of study lakes within 50 km of the mines, while sediment in study lakes further than 50 km acted as As sinks instead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Émilie Leclerc
- Centre for Northern Studies (CEN), Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, and Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jason J Venkiteswaran
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Izabela Jasiak
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - James V Telford
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Mackenzie D J Schultz
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Brent B Wolfe
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Roland I Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Raoul-Marie Couture
- Centre for Northern Studies (CEN), Takuvik Joint International Laboratory, and Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
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12
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Gao M, Sun Q, Wang J, Ding S. Investigation of the combined use of capping and oxidizing agents in the immobilization of arsenic in sediments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146930. [PMID: 33848870 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The combined use of capping (lanthanum modified bentonite; LMB) and oxidizing (calcium nitrate; CN) agents was investigated to immobilize arsenic (As) in sediments. The vertical changes in labile As and dissolved As were measured using diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and Rhizon devices. The results showed that the combined application of LMB and CN had the optimal effect on the immobilization of both DGT-labile As and dissolved As, compared to single treatments using LMB or CN. After 60 days of incubation, the maximum reduction efficiencies of DGT-labile As at sediment depths were 76.4%, 70.8%, and 44.9% of those treated with LMB + CN, CN, and LMB, respectively. After 32 days of incubation, the average concentrations of dissolved total As throughout the depths decreased from 7.71 μg/L after the control treatment without any amendments to 5.25, 4.03, and 3.15 μg/L after the addition of LMB, CN, and LMB + CN, respectively. The larger part of exchangeable As at sediment depths was converted into the reducible As mainly bound Fe/Mn oxide-hydroxides after combining LMB and CN. Due to the As(III) existing mainly in the form of electrically neutral H3AsO3 in sediments, it is hard to adsorb As(III) for the LMB and iron/manganese oxide-hydroxides formed by the oxidation effect of calcium nitrate. Thus, the single or combined LMB and CN use had much weaker effect on the immobilization of As(III) compared with As(V). The results of current study indicated that the combined use of LMB and CN could be a promising method to control the potential release of As from the sediment to the overlying water. However, this method needs further improvement to achieve a better immobilization effect on As(III) in sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Qin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
| | - Jinhui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Shiming Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China
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13
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Zhang X, Sun Y, Ma Y, Ji W, Ren Y. Minimization and stabilization of smelting arsenic-containing hazardous wastewater and solid waste using strategy for stepwise phase-controlled and thermal-doped copper slags. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:21159-21173. [PMID: 33405145 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-11962-y] [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: 08/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Minimization and stabilization of arsenic-containing smelting wastewater and residue is of crucial issue to resolve the arsenic contamination. Calcium arsenate is a typical precipitate produced from disposal of smelting acid wastewater. However, it suffers from poor stability and large quantity in the aqueous environment. Copper slags, as for rich-iron species materials, are disposed of in landfills or open-air tailing ponds, which are another waste material that have not been effectively utilized for reuse application. In this study, strategy for sequence of phase-controlled and thermal-doped copper slag technique was used as the efficient means of minimization and stabilization of arsenic-bearing resides. Detailed results were showed that stepwise phase precipitation significantly reduced the formation of hazardous solid waste; the total solid waste was reduced 47.0 wt% because the gypsum was separated from arsenic calcium residues through two-step methods. Subsequently, solid waste stabilization was achieved by using thermal-doped slag, and the high yield of magnetite (75.6 wt%) and fayalite (22.7 wt%) was produced from copper slags. It was proved that these iron-rich species displayed the remarkable performance to stabilize arsenic due to the formation of Fe-As-Ca-O complex; compared with the raw solid waste, the arsenic leachability was decreased from 280.75 to 1.05 mg/L via copper slag stabilization process. The immobilized arsenic content was 25.0 wt%. Overall, the proposed strategy for stepwise phase-controlled and thermal-doped copper slags was a potentially effective strategy for reducing emissions and pollution of arsenic-containing wastewater and residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaorui Zhang
- Xinhua College of Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonggang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yulong Ma
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenxin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongsheng Ren
- State Key Laboratory of High-efficiency Coal Utilization and Green Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, 750021, People's Republic of China
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14
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Wurtsbaugh WA, Leavitt PR, Moser KA. Effects of a century of mining and industrial production on metal contamination of a model saline ecosystem, Great Salt Lake, Utah. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 266:115072. [PMID: 32836014 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115072] [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: 04/19/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Effects of mining and metals production have been reported in freshwater lake sediments from around the world but are rarely quantified in saline lake sediments, despite the importance of these lake ecosystems. Here we used dated sediment cores from Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA, a large saline lake adjacent to one of the world's largest copper mines, to measure historical changes in the deposition of 22 metals. Metal concentrations were low prior to the onset of mining in the catchment in 1860 CE. Concentrations of copper, lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and other metals began increasing in the late 1800s, with peaks in the 1950s, concomitant with enhanced mining and smelting activities. Sedimentary metal concentrations in the 1950s were 20-40-fold above background levels for copper, lead, silver, and molybdenum. Concentrations of most metals in surficial sediments have decreased 2-5-fold, reflecting: 1) storage and mineralization of sedimenting materials in a deep brine layer, thereby reducing metal transport to the sediments; 2) improved pollution control technologies, and; 3) reduction in mining activity beginning in the 1970s and 1980s. Despite reductions, concentrations of many metals in surficial sediments remain above acceptable contamination thresholds for aquatic ecosystems with migratory birds, and consumption advisories for mercury have been placed on three waterfowl species. The research also highlights that metal deposition in saline lakes is complicated by effects of hypersaline brines and deep-water anoxia in regulating sediment redox and release of metals to surface waters. Given the importance of saline lakes to migratory birds, metals contamination from mining and metals production should be a focus of saline lake remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne A Wurtsbaugh
- Dept. of Watershed Sciences and the Ecology Center, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 84322-5210, USA.
| | - Peter R Leavitt
- Institute of Environmental Change and Society, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, S4S 0A2, Canada; Institute of Global Food Security, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, Antrim, Northern Ireland, UK.
| | - Katrina A Moser
- Dept. of Geography, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5C2, Canada.
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15
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Cheney CL, Eccles KM, Kimpe LE, Thienpont JR, Korosi JB, Blais JM. Determining the effects of past gold mining using a sediment palaeotoxicity model. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 718:137308. [PMID: 32088480 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ore processing techniques used in Yellowknife's largest mining operation, Giant Mine, is responsible for the atmospheric release of approximately 20,000 t of particulate arsenic trioxide and other heavy metal(loids). This rapid deposition of heavy metal(loids) may have caused ecological disturbances to aquatic food webs. Here we use 210Pb and 137Cs dated lake sediment cores from 20 lakes within a 40 km radius of Yellowknife to examine the spatial-temporal distribution of arsenic, antimony and lead. Further, we model the toxicity of the sediment to aquatic biota pre-, during, and post-mining using palaeotoxicity modelling, enrichment factor assessment, and comparisons to national sediment quality guidelines. We found that metal(loid) profiles in sediment peaked during the height of mining operations. These peak metal(loid) concentrations were highest in lakes near the mine's roaster stack, and decreased with distance from the historic mine. Palaeotoxicity modelling of lake sediment archives indicate that there is no significant difference in the mean predicted toxicity of pre- and post-mining samples (p = 0.14), however mining activities in the region significantly increased the predicted toxicity of sediments to aquatic organisms during mining operations (p < 0.001). In the years since roasting processes ceased, the mean palaeotoxicity of all lakes has decreased significantly (p < 0.05), indicating a projected pattern of biological recovery. Importantly, some lakes remain at an elevated risk, indicating that aquatic ecosystems in Yellowknife may continue to have lingering effects on aquatic biota despite the closure of the mine two decades ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia L Cheney
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Kristin M Eccles
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Linda E Kimpe
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Joshua R Thienpont
- York University, Department of Geography, N430 Ross Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Jennifer B Korosi
- York University, Department of Geography, N430 Ross Building, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada.
| | - Jules M Blais
- University of Ottawa, Department of Biology, Gendron Hall, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
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16
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Pothier MP, Lenoble V, Garnier C, Misson B, Rentmeister C, Poulain AJ. Dissolved organic matter controls of arsenic bioavailability to bacteria. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:137118. [PMID: 32059299 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The presence of arsenic in irrigation and drinking waters is a threat to worldwide human health. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a ubiquitous and photoreactive sorbent of arsenic, capable of both suppressing and enhancing its mobility. Microbes can control the mobilization of mineral-bound arsenic, through redox processes thought to occur intracellularly. The role that DOM plays on the bioavailability of arsenic to microbes is often invoked but remains untested experimentally. Here, using a whole-cell biosensor, we tested the role of DOM on As(III) and As(V) bioavailability. Using cation amendments, we explored the nature of As-DOM interactions. We found As bioavailability to be dependent on [As]/[DOM] ratio and on the strength of As binding to DOM which varied as a function of time. We further tested the role of DOM on As(III) photooxidation and showed that As(III) photooxidation rate is limited by the strength of its interactions with DOM and sensitive to ionic competitive desorption. Our study demonstrates the dynamic control that photoreactive DOM poses on the bioavailability and reactivity of As in the environment and highlights the kinetic controls that DOM can possibly exert on As toxicity at various levels in foodwebs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin P Pothier
- Biology Department, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Véronique Lenoble
- Univ. Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS/INSU, IRD, MIO UM 110, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, La Garde, France
| | - Cédric Garnier
- Univ. Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS/INSU, IRD, MIO UM 110, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, La Garde, France
| | - Benjamin Misson
- Univ. Toulon, Aix Marseille Univ., CNRS/INSU, IRD, MIO UM 110, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography, La Garde, France
| | - Charlotte Rentmeister
- Biology Department, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Alexandre J Poulain
- Biology Department, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
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17
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Palmer MJ, Chételat J, Richardson M, Jamieson HE, Galloway JM. Seasonal variation of arsenic and antimony in surface waters of small subarctic lakes impacted by legacy mining pollution near Yellowknife, NT, Canada. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 684:326-339. [PMID: 31153079 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The seasonal variation in lake water arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) concentrations was assessed in four small (<1.5km2) subarctic lakes impacted by As and Sb emissions from legacy mining activities near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Substantial variation in As concentrations were measured over the two-year period of study in all but the deepest lake (maximum depth 6.9m), including a four-fold difference in As in the shallowest lake ([As]: 172-846μgL-1; maximum depth 0.8m). Arsenic concentrations were enriched following ice cover development in the three shallowest lakes (50-110%) through a combination of physical and biogeochemical processes. Early winter increases in As were associated with the exclusion of solutes from the developing ice-cover; and large increases in As were measured once oxygen conditions were depleted to the point of anoxia by mid-winter. The onset of anoxic conditions within the water column was associated with large increases in the concentration of redox sensitive elements in lake waters (As, iron [Fe], and manganese [Mn]), suggesting coupling of As mobility with Fe and Mn cycling. In contrast, there was little difference in Sb concentrations under ice suggesting that Sb mobility was controlled by factors other than Fe and Mn associated redox processes. A survey of 30 lakes in the region during fall (open-water) and late-winter (under-ice) revealed large seasonal differences in surface water As were more common in lakes with a maximum depth <4m. This threshold highlights the importance of winter conditions and links between physical lake properties and biogeochemical processes in the chemical recovery of As-impacted subarctic landscapes. The findings indicate annual remobilization of As from contaminated lake sediments may be inhibiting recovery in small shallow lakes that undergo seasonal transitions in redox state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Palmer
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa K1S 5B6, Canada.
| | - John Chételat
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa K1S 5B6, Canada; Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Murray Richardson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Heather E Jamieson
- Department of Geological Sciences and Geological Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston K7L 3N6, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Galloway
- Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)/Ressources naturelles Canada, Geological Survey of Canada/(GSC) Commission géologique du Canada, Calgary T2L 2A7, Canada; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
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