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Kastury F, Besedin J, Betts AR, Asamoah R, Herde C, Netherway P, Tully J, Scheckel KG, Juhasz AL. Arsenic, cadmium, lead, antimony bioaccessibility and relative bioavailability in legacy gold mining waste. J Hazard Mater 2024; 469:133948. [PMID: 38493633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Bioaccessibility and relative bioavailability of As, Cd, Pb and Sb was investigated in 30 legacy gold mining wastes (calcine sands, grey battery sands, tailings) from Victorian goldfields (Australia). Pseudo-total As concentration in 29 samples was 1.45-148-fold higher than the residential soil guidance value (100 mg/kg) while Cd and Pb concentrations in calcine sands were up to 2.4-fold and 30.1-fold higher than the corresponding guidance value (Cd: 20 mg/kg and Pb: 300 mg/kg). Five calcine sands exhibited elevated Sb (31.9-5983 mg/kg), although an Australian soil guidance value is currently unavailable. Arsenic bioaccessibility (n = 30) and relative bioavailability (RBA; n = 8) ranged from 6.10-77.6% and 10.3-52.9% respectively. Samples containing > 50% arsenopyrite/scorodite showed low As bioaccessibility (<20.0%) and RBA (<15.0%). Co-contaminant RBA was assessed in 4 calcine sands; Pb RBA ranged from 73.7-119% with high Pb RBA associated with organic and mineral sorbed Pb and, lower Pb RBA observed in samples containing plumbojarosite. In contrast, Cd RBA ranged from 55.0-67.0%, while Sb RBA was < 5%. This study highlights the importance of using multiple lines of evidence during exposure assessment and provides valuable baseline data for co-contaminants associated with legacy gold mining activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farzana Kastury
- Future Industries Institute, STEM, University of South Australia, SA, Australia.
| | - Julie Besedin
- Future Industries Institute, STEM, University of South Australia, SA, Australia; School of Science, STEM, RMIT University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Aaron R Betts
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Land Remediation and Technology Division, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Richmond Asamoah
- Future Industries Institute, STEM, University of South Australia, SA, Australia
| | - Carina Herde
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide 5086, Australia
| | - Pacian Netherway
- EPA Science, Environment Protection Authority Victoria, Centre for Applied Sciences, Ernest Jones Drive, Macleod, Melbourne, Victoria 3085, Australia
| | - Jennifer Tully
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Water Infrastructure Division, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kirk G Scheckel
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Land Remediation and Technology Division, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Albert L Juhasz
- Future Industries Institute, STEM, University of South Australia, SA, Australia
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Pisconte JN, Vega CM, Sayers CJ, Sevillano-Ríos CS, Pillaca M, Quispe E, Tejeda V, Ascorra C, Silman MR, Fernandez LE. Elevated mercury exposure in bird communities inhabiting Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining landscapes of the southeastern Peruvian Amazon. Ecotoxicology 2024:10.1007/s10646-024-02740-4. [PMID: 38363482 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-024-02740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining (ASGM) represents a significant source of anthropogenic mercury emissions to the environment, with potentially severe implications for avian biodiversity. In the Madre de Dios department of the southern Peruvian Amazon, ASGM activities have created landscapes marred by deforestation and post-mining water bodies (mining ponds) with notable methylation potential. While data on Hg contamination in terrestrial wildlife remains limited, this study measures Hg exposure in several terrestrial bird species as bioindicators. Total Hg (THg) levels in feathers from birds near water bodies, including mining ponds associated with ASGM areas and oxbow lakes, were analyzed. Our results showed significantly higher Hg concentrations in birds from ASGM sites with mean ± SD of 3.14 ± 7.97 µg/g (range: 0.27 to 72.75 µg/g, n = 312) compared to control sites with a mean of 0.47 ± 0.42 µg/g (range: 0.04 to 1.89 µg/g, n = 52). Factors such as trophic guilds, ASGM presence, and water body area significantly influenced feather Hg concentrations. Notably, piscivorous birds exhibited the highest Hg concentration (31.03 ± 25.25 µg/g, n = 12) exceeding known concentrations that affect reproductive success, where one measurement of Chloroceryle americana (Green kingfisher; 72.7 µg/g) is among the highest ever reported in South America. This research quantifies Hg exposure in avian communities in Amazonian regions affected by ASGM, highlighting potential risks to regional bird populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N Pisconte
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú.
| | - Claudia M Vega
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Christopher J Sayers
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | | | - Martin Pillaca
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Edwin Quispe
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Vania Tejeda
- World Wildlife Fund-Peru, Trinidad Moran 853, Lima 14, Lima, Peru
| | - Cesar Ascorra
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
| | - Miles R Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
| | - Luis E Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios, 17000, Perú
- Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability, and Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-, Salem, NC, 27106, USA
- Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
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Ojo GJ, Onile OS, Momoh AO, Oyeyemi BF, Omoboyede V, Fadahunsi AI, Onile T. Physiochemical analyses and molecular characterization of heavy metal-resistant bacteria from Ilesha gold mining sites in Nigeria. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:172. [PMID: 38133697 PMCID: PMC10746654 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00607-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The contribution of the processes involved and waste generated during gold mining to the increment of heavy metals concentration in the environment has been well established. While certain heavy metals are required for the normal functioning of an organism, certain heavy metals have been identified for their deleterious effects on the ecosystem and non-physiological roles in organisms. Hence, efforts aimed at reducing their concentration level are crucial. To this end, soil and water samples were collected from Ilesha gold mining, Osun State, Nigeria, and they were subjected to various analyses aimed at evaluating their various physicochemical parameters, heavy metal concentration, heavy metal-resistant bacteria isolation, and other analyses which culminated in the molecular characterization of heavy metal-resistant bacteria. RESULTS Notably, the results obtained from this study revealed that the concentration of heavy metal in the water samples around the mining site was in the order Co > Zn > Cd > Pb > Hg while that of the soil samples was in the order Co > Cd > Pb > Hg > Zn. A minimum inhibitory concentration test performed on the bacteria isolates from the samples revealed some of the isolates could resist as high as 800 ppm of Co, Cd, and Zn, 400 ppm, and 100 ppm of Pb and Hg respectively. Molecular characterization of the isolates revealed them as Priestia aryabhattai and Enterobacter cloacae. CONCLUSION Further analysis revealed the presence of heavy metal-resistant genes (HMRGs) including merA, cnrA, and pocC in the isolated Enterobacter cloacae. Ultimately, the bacteria identified in this study are good candidates for bioremediation and merit further investigation in efforts to bioremediate heavy metals in gold mining sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glory Jesutomisin Ojo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology Programme, Elizade University, P.M.B, 002 Ilara-Mokin, Ilara-Mokin, 340271, Nigeria.
| | - Olugbenga Samson Onile
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology Programme, Elizade University, P.M.B, 002 Ilara-Mokin, Ilara-Mokin, 340271, Nigeria
| | - Abdul Onoruoiza Momoh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Programme, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, P.M.B, 002, Ilara-Mokin, 340271, Nigeria
| | - Bolaji Fatai Oyeyemi
- Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Molecular Biology Group, The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, Nigeria
| | - Victor Omoboyede
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences (SLS), Federal University of Technology Akure, P.M.B 704, Akure, Nigeria
| | - Adeyinka Ignatius Fadahunsi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Biotechnology Programme, Elizade University, P.M.B, 002 Ilara-Mokin, Ilara-Mokin, 340271, Nigeria
| | - Tolulope Onile
- Department of Biological Sciences, Microbiology Programme, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, P.M.B, 002, Ilara-Mokin, 340271, Nigeria
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Marrugo-Negrete J, Pinedo-Hernández J, Marrugo-Madrid S, Paternina-Uribe R, Ruiz-Fernández AC, Sanchez-Cabeza JA. Vertical distribution and trace element contamination in sediment cores affected by gold mining in Colombia. Chemosphere 2023; 340:139744. [PMID: 37567269 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
The vertical distribution, level of contamination, potential ecological risks, and historical fluxes of trace elements (Pb, As, and Hg) were evaluated from 210Pb-dated sediment cores in three different areas with gold mining impacts in northern Colombia: the Atrato River (AR), the Delicias Marsh (DM) and the Encaramada Marsh (EM). All cores spanned ∼100 years; the mass accumulation rates followed the order AR > DM > EM. The average trace elements concentrations in the sediment cores were: Pb 2.41 ± 0.72, As 0.65 ± 0.32, Hg 0.07 ± 0.02 μg g-1 in the Atrato River; Pb 23.49 ± 2.59, As 2.46 ± 0.88, Hg 0.10 ± 0.02 μg g-1 in the Delicias Marsh; and Pb 9.76 ± 4.18, As 2.44 ± 1.26, Hg 0.17 ± 0.06 μg g-1 in the Encaramada Marsh. Sediments are classified according to the contamination factor (CF) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo) as low to very highly contaminated. The Pollution load index (PLI) indicates environmental deterioration (PLI> 1), and the Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) indicate that only Hg may produce adverse biological effects in the EM core. This study is an example of the reconstruction of temporal changes in pollution levels and impacts of potentially toxic elements caused by gold mining in remote ecosystems, which can be reproduced in other areas where environmental monitoring is scarce or non-existent.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Marrugo-Negrete
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia.
| | - José Pinedo-Hernández
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia.
| | - Siday Marrugo-Madrid
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia; Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roberth Paternina-Uribe
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia
| | - Ana Carolina Ruiz-Fernández
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica, Mazatlán, Mexico
| | - Joan-Albert Sanchez-Cabeza
- Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Ciencias Del Mar y Limnología, Unidad Académica, Mazatlán, Mexico
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Vreedzaam A, Ouboter P, Hindori-Mohangoo AD, Lepak R, Rumschlag S, Janssen S, Landburg G, Shankar A, Zijlmans W, Lichtveld MY, Wickliffe JK. Contrasting mercury contamination scenarios and site susceptibilities confound fish mercury burdens in Suriname, South America. Environ Pollut 2023; 336:122447. [PMID: 37648055 PMCID: PMC10756560 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
In Suriname, mercury (Hg) use has recently increased because of gold mining, which has put fish-reliant communities (e.g., Indigenous and Tribal) at risk of enhanced Hg exposure through the riverine fish these communities consume. To quantify how the magnitude of these risks change according to location and time, we measured total mercury (HgT) in fish at sites downstream and upstream of an artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operation in 2004-2005 and in 2017-2018. We tested whether fish HgT burdens over dynamic ranges were increased. Surprisingly, our findings did not support broadly increased fish Hg burden over time or that proximity to ASGM was diagnostic to fish HgT-burden. Subsequently, we elected to test the HgT stable isotope ratios on a set of freshly collected 2020 fish to determine whether differences in Hg source and delivery pathways might cofound results. We found that remote unmined sites were more susceptible to gaseous elemental Hg deposition pathways, leading to enhanced risk of contamination, whereas ASGM proximate sites were not. These results highlight that elemental mercury releases from ASGM practices may have significant impact on fish-reliant communities that are far removed from ASGM point source contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arioené Vreedzaam
- Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program, United Nations Development Programme Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Paul Ouboter
- Institute of Neotropical Wildlife and Environmental Studies, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | | | - Ryan Lepak
- US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN USA
| | - Samantha Rumschlag
- US Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development, Duluth, MN USA
| | - Sarah Janssen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, USGS Mercury Research Laboratory, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Gwen Landburg
- Environmental Laboratory, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Arti Shankar
- School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Wilco Zijlmans
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | | | - Jeffrey K Wickliffe
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Keane S, Bernaudat L, Davis KJ, Stylo M, Mutemeri N, Singo P, Twala P, Mutemeri I, Nakafeero A, Etui ID. Mercury and artisanal and small-scale gold mining: Review of global use estimates and considerations for promoting mercury-free alternatives. Ambio 2023; 52:833-852. [PMID: 36897513 PMCID: PMC10073365 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-023-01843-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is present in over 80 countries, employing about 15 million miners and serving as source of livelihood for millions more. The sector is estimated to be the largest emitter of mercury globally. The Minamata Convention on Mercury seeks to reduce and, where feasible, eliminate mercury use in the ASGM. However, the total quantity of mercury used in ASGM globally is still highly uncertain, and the adoption of mercury-free technologies has been limited. This paper presents an overview of new data, derived from Minamata ASGM National Action Plan submissions, that can contribute to refining estimates of mercury use in ASGM, and then assesses technologies that can support the phase out mercury use in ASGM while increasing gold recovery. The paper concludes with a discussion of social and economic barriers to adoption of these technologies, illustrated by a case study from Uganda.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Keane
- NRDC, 1152 15th St, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005 USA
| | - Ludovic Bernaudat
- UN Environment Programme, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
| | - Kenneth J. Davis
- UN Environment Programme, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
| | - Malgorzata Stylo
- UN Environment Programme, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
| | - Nellia Mutemeri
- University of Witwatersrand, Private Bag 3, WITS, Johannesburg, 2050 South Africa
| | | | - Pontsho Twala
- School of Mining Engineering, University of Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, Johannesburg, 2050 South Africa
| | | | - Anne Nakafeero
- NEMA House, Plot 17, 19 & 21, Jinja Road, P. O. Box 22255, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Imelda Dossou Etui
- UN Environment Programme, 8-14 Avenue de la Paix, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
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Andaryani S, Nourani V, Ershadfath F, Hashemi F, Haghighi AT, Keesstra S. The detection and monitoring of pollution caused by gold mining using a vegetation cover index. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:8020-8035. [PMID: 36048390 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-22773-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This study explores how a vegetation cover (VC) index can be employed as a pollution warning tool in gold mining areas in the Northwest of Iran. The analysis included the following: (a) the extraction of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) maps from Landsat images in three zones, i.e., mining operations, upstream areas without any exploration, and the downstream area of the mining activities, (b) calculation of the zones' VC, (c) investigation of transformation trends in each pixel of VC time series using the Mann-Kendall trend test, (d) determination of the pixels with significant VC reduction and the significant starting points of the trend using the sequential Mann-Kendall test, (e) assessment of the correlation between the zones with significantly reduced VC, and (f) a correlation test between average monthly and annual climate parameters and VC. Our results indicate that although 51 ha of VC has been demolished around the mining activities areas (i.e., zone 1), an overall upward trend in vegetation with no chemical leakage is observed into the downstream area of the basin (i.e., zone 3). This upward trend can be mostly attributed to the increasing precipitation and decreasing temperature in the study period. The fact that the area downstream of the mine shows that the heap leaching method for gold mining in Andaryan mine is currently not damaging the vegetation, this likely means that there is no leakage to the surrounding environment from the mine. Our results further show that using NDVI in a pixel-based scale and statistical methods has a high potential to quantify the effects of human activities on surface biophysical characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soghra Andaryani
- Center of Excellence in Hydroinformatics and Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Hydrology, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, 1350, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Vahid Nourani
- Center of Excellence in Hydroinformatics and Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
- Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Near East University, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Farnaz Ershadfath
- Water Engineering Department, Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University, Sari, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hashemi
- Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Ali Torabi Haghighi
- Water, Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Unit, University of Oulu, 90570, Oulu, Finland
| | - Saskia Keesstra
- Team Soil, Water and Land Use, Wageningen Environmental Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 RC, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- Civil, Surveying and Environmental Engineering, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, 2308, Australia
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Ayiwouo MN, Yamgouot FN, Ngueyep Mambou LL, Kingni ST, Ngounouno I. Impact of gold mining on the water quality of the lom river, Gankombol, Cameroon. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12452. [PMID: 36590499 PMCID: PMC9801131 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to assess the impact of gold mining on the water quality of the Lom River at Gankombol (Adamawa Cameroon). Forty-eight (48) water samples are systematically collected during the dry and the rainy season. These water samples are characterized to determine the physico-chemical parameters, major ions and metals. A local geological study is conducted to determine the relationship between the geological units encountered and water contamination. Hydrochemical assessment, multivariate statistical analysis (MSA) and geostatistical modeling (GM) are used to assess contamination. The results indicate that the waters of the Lom River draining the gold mining site are acidic to neutral (5.3-6.9), very turbid (117-510 NTU) with high concentrations of suspended solids (22.89-471 mg/L). The mean concentrations of Fe, Pb, and As exceed the limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Pb, As, Cd and Hg concentrations decrease in the rainy season mainly due to dilution by rainwater. The predominant water type is Ca-Mg-HCO3. This surface water is unsuitable for drinking purpose (997.5, Water Quality Index >300) with high level of metal pollution. MSA reveal strong linear correlations between EC-TDS, EC-Na+, TDS-Na+, Pb-As, Cl- -SO4 2- and TSS-Cd suggesting that the correlated parameters can have common origin. Finally, GM reveal that the lowest values of metals and pollution indices are found upstream of the gold mining site. The weathering of geological units encountered, mining activities and seasons have a major influence on the water quality. Therefore, it appears that decision-makers must take immediate action to decrease pollution and adopt suitable and sustainable remedial solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mouhamed Ngounouno Ayiwouo
- Department of Mining Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon,Corresponding author.
| | | | - Luc Leroy Ngueyep Mambou
- Department of Mining Engineering, School of Geology and Mining Engineering, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 115, Meiganga, Cameroon,Laboratory of Material Sciences, Department of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé 1, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Sifeu Takougang Kingni
- Department of Mechanical, Petroleum and Gas Engineering, National Advanced School of Mines and Petroleum Industries, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 46, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - Ismaila Ngounouno
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Ngaoundere, P.O. Box 454, Ngaoundere, Cameroon
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Gomes PR, Pestana IA, de Almeida MG, de Oliveira BCV, de Rezende CE. Effects of illegal gold mining on Hg concentrations in water, Pistia stratiotes, suspended particulate matter, and bottom sediments of two impacted rivers (Paraíba do Sul River and Muriaé River), Southeastern, Brazil. Environ Monit Assess 2022; 194:797. [PMID: 36114919 PMCID: PMC9483332 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-10477-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Recent reports of illegal small-scale alluvial gold mining activities (locally called garimpo) by miners working on rafts in the Paraíba do Sul River (PSR) and in one of its tributaries (Muriaé River (MR)) have raised concerns about Hg contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of garimpo activities on Hg contamination in three environmental compartments. Water, sediment, and aquatic macrophytes (Pistia stratiotes) were sampled during the rainy season in PSR, forming a 106-km transect from the point where garimpo rafts were seen and/or seized by the Federal Police. They were also sampled in the MR. Total and dissolved mercury (Hg) concentrations in water and total Hg in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) sampled in the PSR increased by 1.7, 1.5, and 2.1 times at the points where the rafts were seen compared to the point immediately upstream. In the MR, Hg concentrations were higher than those in the PSR, but most values in the environmental compartments were below the safe limits (174-486 ng∙g-1, threshold and probable effect level, respectively), with the exception of Hg in the SPM of one of the MR sampling points (256 ng∙g-1) and the mining tailings (197 ng∙g-1). Sediment granulometry was exponentially associated with Hg concentrations in the sediment (R2 = 0.75, p < 0.0001) and is also essential to understand the physical impacts of garimpo on PSR. Future studies should focus on assessing the seasonal variability of Hg concentrations in the studied compartments, especially if garimpo is identified during the dry season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipe Ribeiro Gomes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências E Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 28013-602, Brazil.
| | - Inácio Abreu Pestana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências E Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Gomes de Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências E Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Bráulio Cherene Vaz de Oliveira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências E Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 28013-602, Brazil
| | - Carlos Eduardo de Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ecologia E Recursos Naturais, Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências E Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual Do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000 - Parque Califórnia, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 28013-602, Brazil
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Mensah AK, Marschner B, Wang J, Bundschuh J, Wang SL, Yang PT, Shaheen SM, Rinklebe J. Reducing conditions increased the mobilisation and hazardous effects of arsenic in a highly contaminated gold mine spoil. J Hazard Mater 2022; 436:129238. [PMID: 35739757 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) redox-induced mobilisation and speciation in polluted gold mine sites in tropical climates largely remains unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of changes in soil redox potential (EH) (-54 mV to +429 mV) on mobilisation of As and its dominant species in an abandoned spoil (total As = 4283 mg/kg) using an automated biogeochemical microcosm set-up. Arsenic mobilisation increased (85-137 mg/L) at moderately reducing conditions (-54 mV to + 200 mV)), while its reduced (6-35 mg/L) under oxic conditions (+200 to +400 mV). This indicates the high risk of As potential loss under reducing conditions. The mobilisation of As was governed by the redox chemistry of Fe. XANES and EXAFS analyses showed that sorbed-As(V)-goethite, sorbed-As(III)-ferrihydrite, scorodite and arsenopyrite were the predominant As species in the mine spoil. As(V) dominated at oxic conditions and As(III) predominated at moderately reducing conditions, which may be attributed to either inability of arsenate bacteria to reduce As or incomplete reduction. Lower Fe/As molar ratios during moderately reducing conditions show that the mine spoil may migrate As to watercourses during flooding, which may increase the hazardous effects of this toxic element. Therefore, encouraging aerobic conditions may mitigate As release and potential loss from the mine field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Kobina Mensah
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Geography, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research- Soil Research Institute, Academy Post Office, Kwadaso- Kumasi, Ghana.
| | - Bernd Marschner
- Department of Soil Science and Soil Ecology, Institute of Geography, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany.
| | - Jianxu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550082 Guiyang, PR China; University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- University of Southern Queensland, UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, West Street, Toowoomba 4350 Queensland, Australia; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, National Chung Cheng University, 168 University Road, Min-Hsiung, Chiayi County 62102, Taiwan
| | - Shan-Li Wang
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1 Sect. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Puu-Tai Yang
- Department of Agricultural Chemistry, National Taiwan University, 1 Sect. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Sabry M Shaheen
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia; International Research Centre of Nanotechnology for Himalayan Sustainability (IRCNHS), Shoolini University, Solan 173212, Himachal Pradesh, India.
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water, and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil, and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany.
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11
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Aendo P, Mingkhwan R, Senachai K, Santativongchai P, Thiendedsakul P, Tulayakul P. Health significant alarms of toxic carcinogenic risk consumption of blood meal metals contamination in poultry at a gold mining neighborhood, northern Thailand. Environ Geochem Health 2022; 44:783-797. [PMID: 34057663 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00971-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The proposes of this study were to compare THg (total mercury), Pb(Lead), Cd(Cadmium), and Mn (Manganese) contamination in poultry blood between polluted areas (≤ 25 km) and unpolluted areas (> 25 km) adjacent to the largest gold mining in northern Thailand. The THg level in the free-grazing duck in polluted areas was significantly higher than unpolluted area. Both THg and Pb levels in free-grazing duck were also highest in polluted areas. In contrast, the level of (Mn) in chicken blood was the highest in polluted areas. Cadmium in farmed duck from polluted areas was significantly higher than unpolluted areas. The target hazard quotient (THQ) and hazard index (HI) of Hg, Pb, Cd, and Mn in all age groups in both areas did not exceed 1, meaning there is no possibility of the non-carcinogenic toxicity. Whereas, the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) of both Pb and Cd exceeded 1 × 10-4 in all age groups and these were particularly higher in the polluted area and considered to yield significant health effects of increasing the cancer risk. The ILCR in descending order for Pb and Cd was 13-18 years old = 18-35 years old > 6-13 years old = 35-65 years old > 3-6 years old > 65 up years old, respectively. The results revealed that the human cancer risk related to consuming poultry blood contaminated with both Pb and Cd in all age groups must be of concern, especially 13-18 and 18-35 years, it must be recommended to avoid raising animals in contaminated areas, especially free-grazing duck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweena Aendo
- Graduate Student, Animal Health and Biomedical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Rachaneekorn Mingkhwan
- Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | | | - Pitchaya Santativongchai
- Bio-Veterinary Sciences (International Program), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Piriyaporn Thiendedsakul
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Health and Biomedical Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Phitsanu Tulayakul
- Department of Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, 73140, Thailand.
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12
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de Castro FF, Góes GS, Sena do Nascimento JA, Tardin MM. Incidences of COVID-19 in major mining municipalities in the Brazilian Amazon: Economic impacts, risks and lessons. Extr Ind Soc 2022; 9:101033. [PMID: 34900609 PMCID: PMC8648595 DOI: 10.1016/j.exis.2021.101033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
This paper provides an assessment of COVID-19 occurrences in the Brazilian Amazon, with special emphasis on municipalities where mining activity is prevalent. It does so with a view to exploring how mining may be influencing the spread of coronavirus, not only within municipalities where the sector is widespread but also other areas of the Amazon. The analysis draws on findings from qualitative research and case studies of selected mining municipalities in Brazil. The results were analyzed by population range, and cases reported from the onset of the pandemic were mapped and evaluated. It is revealed that: (1) within the 772 municipalities in the Amazon, incidence of COVID-19 is relatively higher in the 33 largest mining localities; (2) there have been a higher proportion of COVID-19 cases in the selected municipalities than in other municipalities which have a similar population range; and (3) between 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, among the Amazon's mining municipalities, those containing gold experienced the most significant growth as well as had highest rates of infection. Overall, the results suggest that in the Brazilian Amazon, COVID-19 has spread fastest in major mining municipalities. These results and continuation of this research will provide support for decision-makers and local governments.
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Jiménez-Oyola S, García-Martínez MJ, Ortega MF, Chavez E, Romero P, García-Garizabal I, Bolonio D. Ecological and probabilistic human health risk assessment of heavy metal(loid)s in river sediments affected by mining activities in Ecuador. Environ Geochem Health 2021; 43:4459-4474. [PMID: 33881675 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00935-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gold mining is a significant source of metal(loid)s released into the environment. It is an issue of concern due to the potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to toxic elements. This study aimed to assess the ecological and human health risk caused by heavy metal(loid)s exposure in river sediments in Ponce Enríquez, one of the most important mining sites in Ecuador. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were evaluated in 172 sediment samples to determine the Potential ecological risk (RI) and the carcinogenic (CR) and non-carcinogenic risk (HQ). The human exposure to polluted sediments during recreational activities was computed using Bayesian probabilistic models. Residents were randomly surveyed to adjust the risk models to the specific population data. More than 68% of the sampling stations pose a severe As and Cd ecological risk index ([Formula: see text] > 320). Likewise, residents exposed to river sediments showed a non-acceptable carcinogenic risk by incidental ingestion, being As the primary contributor to overall cancer in both children and adults receptors. Moreover, non-carcinogenic risk through the incidental ingestion of sediments was above the safe limit for children. This is the first study conducted in a mining region in Ecuador that reveals the severe levels of ecological and human health risk to which the population is exposed. These results can be applied as a baseline to develop public health strategies to monitor and reduce the health hazards of the residents of mining communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Jiménez-Oyola
- Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003, Madrid, Spain
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - María-Jesús García-Martínez
- Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marcelo F Ortega
- Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Chavez
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Paola Romero
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - Iker García-Garizabal
- Facultad de Ingeniería en Ciencias de la Tierra, Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral, ESPOL, Campus Gustavo Galindo km 30.5 vía Perimetral, P.O. Box 09-01-5863, Guayaquil, Ecuador
| | - David Bolonio
- Department of Energy and Fuels, E.T.S. Ingenieros de Minas y Energía, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Ríos Rosas 21, 28003, Madrid, Spain
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Kahangwa CA, Nahonyo CL, Sangu G, Nassary EK. Assessing phytoremediation potentials of selected plant species in restoration of environments contaminated by heavy metals in gold mining areas of Tanzania. Heliyon 2021; 7:e07979. [PMID: 34568600 PMCID: PMC8449179 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This study assessed and classified the phytoremediation potentials of selected plant species around gold mining areas in restoring the environments contaminated by heavy metals. The geographic focuses of the study were the Golden Pride Gold Mine (GPGM) and Geita Gold Mine (GGM) in Tanzania. The shoots and roots of plant species surrounding the mining areas and the samples of associated soils were collected and analysed for total concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV-VIS spectrophotometry. Results indicated that the soils from study areas were loamy textured and slightly acid (pH 6.1–6.5), soil organic carbon and organic matter were low (0.6–2.0%), total nitrogen was very low (<0.10%), phosphorous ranged from low (6–12 mg kg−1 soil) to high (13–25 mg kg−1 soil), and cation exchange capacity ranged from low (6.0–12.0 cmol(+) kg−1 soil) to medium (12.1–25.0 cmol(+) kg−1 soil). In assessing heavy metals using plant parts, the roots of giant rats-tail grass (Sporobolus pyramidalis) accumulated highest Pb (757.78 μg g−1), Creeping Blepharis (Blepharis maderaspatensis) the Cd (158.11 μg g−1), lantana (Lantana camara) the As (68.61 μg g−1), and leuceana (Leucaena leucocephala) accumulated higher Mn (2734.61 μg g−1) and Ni (4464.33 μg g−1). In shoots, L. leucocephala accumulated higher Cr (1276.67 μg g−1) and higher Cu (2744.44 μg g−1) in L. camara. Although S. pyramidalis, M. repens, L. camara, B. maderaspatensis and L. leucocephala are likely to pose hazards to herbivores (grazing animals) while entering the food chain, they are still potential hyperaccumulators thus can be used to decontaminate metalliferous affected soils. Blepharis maderaspatensis has never been reported anywhere as Pb, Cd, Cu, Mn and Ni uptake plant hence this can be regarded as a new finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caren A. Kahangwa
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Corresponding author.
| | - Cuthbert L. Nahonyo
- Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35064, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - George Sangu
- Department of Botany, University of Dar es Salaam, P. O. Box 35060, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Eliakira K. Nassary
- Department of Soil and Geological Sciences, College of Agriculture, Sokoine University of Agriculture, P. O. Box 3008, Chuo-Kikuu, Morogoro, Tanzania
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15
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Galarza E, Cabrera M, Espinosa R, Espitia E, Moulatlet GM, Capparelli MV. Assessing the Quality of Amazon Aquatic Ecosystems with Multiple Lines of Evidence: The Case of the Northeast Andean Foothills of Ecuador. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2021; 107:52-61. [PMID: 33491128 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-020-03089-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the quality of Andes-Amazonia streams in Ecuador impacted by gold mining (GM), discharges from inefficient sewage network in urban areas (UA), wastes from fish farming (FF) and from non-functional landfill (LF) and other few threats (FT). We selected three lines of evidence (LOE) that were used separately and integrated into a index: water quality (WQI) and macroinvertebrate community (AAMBI) indices and phytotoxicity tests. Streams affected by UA and LF had the lowest scores to WQI and phytotoxicity, and by GM had the lowest scores to AAMBI. Macroinvertebrate absence in GM should be considered as a warning signal of long-term mining impacts in the area. The integrated LOE index showed that sites with identified threats had 30%-53% stream quality decline compared to FT sites. The use of the selected LOE seems to be a useful tools for long-term monitoring and evaluation of this sensitive aquatic ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Galarza
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Tierra Y Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Marcela Cabrera
- Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia del Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Rodrigo Espinosa
- Grupo de Biogeografía y Ecología Espacial - BioGeoE2, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Vida, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Edgar Espitia
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Tierra Y Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Gabriel M Moulatlet
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Tierra Y Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
| | - Mariana V Capparelli
- Facultad de Ciencias de La Tierra Y Agua, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Km 7 Vía Muyuna, Tena, Napo, Ecuador.
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Velásquez Ramírez MG, Vega Ruiz CM, Gomringer RC, Pillaca M, Thomas E, Stewart PM, Gamarra Miranda LA, Dañobeytia FR, Guerrero Barrantes JA, Gushiken MC, Bardales JV, Silman M, Fernandez L, Ascorra C, Torres DDC. Mercury in soils impacted by alluvial gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. J Environ Manage 2021; 288:112364. [PMID: 33774565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Gold mining is the largest source of mercury (Hg) pollution worldwide. The discharge of mercury in the environment bears direct human health risks and is likely to increase cascading effects throughout local food chains. In the Peruvian Amazon the mining process consists of slashing and burning trees, followed by extraction of gold-bearing sediment, amalgamation with Hg and gold recovery, leading each year to the degradation of 6,000-10,000 ha and the release of 180 metric tons of Hg per year to the enviroment. The purpose of this study was to determine soil Hg levels in soils of abandoned alluvial gold mine spoils and undisturbed forest in the Madre de Dios region, the epicenter of alluvial gold mining in Peru. We selected gold mine spoils of the two most important technologies locally applied for gold extraction, i.e., Minimally Mechanized Mining (MMM) and Highly Mechanized Mining (HMM), in the native communities of Laberinto and Kotzimba, respectively. We collected 127 and 35 soil samples (0-20cm depth) from potentially contaminated sites and undisturbed forest, respectively. Physicochemical analysis and determination of Hg levels were determined for all soil samples. None of the samples had Hg concentrations above Peruvian, Canadian and British Environmental Quality Standards for Agricultural Soil (6.6mg/kg). Hg levels in MMM and HMM were not significantly different between the two areas. The main variables explaining variation of soil Hg concentrations were the vegetation cover, soil organic matter, soil pH and clay particle content, which explained up to 80% of data set variation. Surprisingly, highest Hg concentrations were found in untouched old-growth forest bordering the mine spoils, but there was also a trend of increasing Hg concentrations with the regenerating vegetation. Our findings suggest that Hg concentrations in old mine spoils are low and shouldn't stand in the way of efforts to restore soil conditions and develop sustainable land uses. However, it is urgent to end the use of Hg in mining operation to decrease human and environmental risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claudia Maribel Vega Ruiz
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, Peru.
| | - Ronald Corvera Gomringer
- Dirección Regional IIAP Madre de Dios y Selva Sur, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Jr. Ica N°1162, Puerto Maldonado, Apartado postal, 17001, Peru.
| | - Martin Pillaca
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru.
| | - Evert Thomas
- Bioversity International, Av. La Molina, 1895, Lima, Apartado postal Lima12, Peru.
| | - Paul Michael Stewart
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Troy University, Troy, AL, 36081, Alabama, USA.
| | - Luis Alfredo Gamarra Miranda
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Jr. Ica N°1162, Puerto Maldonado, apartado, 17001, Peru.
| | - Francisco Roman Dañobeytia
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, Peru.
| | - Juan Antonio Guerrero Barrantes
- Departamento de suelos, Universidad Nacional Agraria, La Molina (UNALM), Av. La Molina s/n, Lima, Perú, apartado postal Lima12, Peru.
| | - Midori Chinen Gushiken
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Jr. Ica N°1162, Puerto Maldonado, apartado, 17001, Peru.
| | - Joel Vasquez Bardales
- Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Jr. Ica N°1162, Puerto Maldonado, apartado, 17001, Peru.
| | - Miles Silman
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, Peru.
| | - Luis Fernandez
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, Peru; Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Insitution For Science, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Cesar Ascorra
- Centro de Innovación Científica Amazónica (CINCIA), Puerto Maldonado, 17000, Madre de Dios, Peru; Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, 27106, Peru.
| | - Dennis Del Castillo Torres
- Programa BOSQUES, Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP), Iquitos, apartado postal, 16000, Peru.
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Kinimo KC, Yao KM, Marcotte S, Kouassi NLB, Trokourey A. Trace metal(loid)s contamination in paddy rice (Oryza sativa L.) from wetlands near two gold mines in Côte d'Ivoire and health risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2021; 28:22779-22788. [PMID: 33423204 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12360-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) in rice grains grown in wetlands associated with gold mining in central-southern of Côte d'Ivoire to evaluate potential health risks exposure via rice consumption. In total, 30 rice grains were sampled around Agbaou and Bonikro gold mines. Arsenic and cadmium concentrations were determined using an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES), while atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) was used for mercury. Results showed that As and Hg average concentrations in rice were above the permissible limits, while Cd average concentrations were below the permissible limit established by FAO/WHO in both sites. Except for Hg at Agbaou, no significant (p < 0.05) difference was found between trace metal concentrations in the two sites. The average daily intake (ADI) of As via rice consumption exceeded the USEPA reference dose (RfD) of 0.0003 μg g-1 day-1, indicating that rice ingestion is a pathway of As exposure for adults and children in the area. The average values of non-carcinogen (HQ) for As and carcinogen (CR) for As and Cd risks index suggest that potential health risks exist for both adults and children due to rice consumption at Agbaou and Bonikro. The maximum safe weekly consumption (MSWC) of rice relative to As, Cd, and Hg was estimated for the study area. Overall, this study provides strong evidence that As could threaten local population health in Côte d'Ivoire regions where gold mine extraction is occurring through rice ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kakou Charles Kinimo
- UFR Sciences Biologiques, Département de Mathématiques Physique Chimie, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, BP 1328, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire.
| | - Koffi Marcellin Yao
- Centre de Recherches Océanologiques (CRO), 29, rue des pêcheurs, BP V18, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Stéphane Marcotte
- Normandie University, COBRA, UMR CNRS 6014 et FR 3038, INSA de Rouen, 1 rue Tesnière, Cedex 76821, Mont Saint-Aignan, France
| | - N'Guessan Louis Berenger Kouassi
- UFR Sciences Biologiques, Département de Mathématiques Physique Chimie, Université Peleforo Gon Coulibaly, BP 1328, Korhogo, Côte d'Ivoire
| | - Albert Trokourey
- Physic Chemistry Laboratory, Félix Houphouët Boigny University, BP 522, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
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Tulasi D, Fajon V, Kotnik J, Shlyapnikov Y, Adotey DK, Serfor-Armah Y, Horvat M. Mercury methylation in cyanide influenced river sediments: A comparative study in Southwestern Ghana. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:180. [PMID: 33694002 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-08920-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Studies on the influence of CN on Hg methylation rates in aquatic systems draining gold mining (artisanal and small-scale) communities in Africa are rare. The study assessed the influence of CN on Hg methylation in aquatic sediments of two major river systems draining artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities of the Prestea-Huni Valley district, Southwestern Ghana. The miners extract gold (Au) through exclusive amalgam [Hg-Au] formation or cyanidation of Au-rich Hg-contaminated tailings, or a combination of both techniques. Hg water solubility and probable mercuric compounds in sediments of Hg-contaminated CN-loaded (River Aprepre) and Hg-contaminated non-CN (River Ankobra) aquatic systems within the district were investigated. THg was determined by CV-AAS after HF/HNO3/HCl digestion. MeHg in sediments were extracted with H2SO4/KBr/CuSO4-CH2Cl2; followed by aqueous-phase propylation, preconcentration-on-Tenax, and GC-CV-AFS. River Aprepre showed 4.58-14.83 ngMeHg/g as Hg (1.4-3.7% THg as MeHg), with 241-415 ngTHg/g, and 0.05-0.21 mgCN/kg. For River Ankobra, MeHg ranged 0.24-1.21 ngMeHg/g (0.08-0.35% THg as MeHg) with 162-490 ngTHg/g dw and CN < 0.001 mg/kg. There was positive correlation (r2 = 0.5974; p < 0.01) between MeHg and CN in River Aprepre. The water-soluble fraction of Hg in sediment from both rivers was < 1% of THg. Hg in sediments from River Aprepre were generally more soluble than that from River Ankobra, indicating that Hg in sediments from River Aprepre were potentially more bioavailable for methylation. Accordingly, the presence of CN in Hg-dominated river sediments potentially influences and enhances the solubility and mobility of Hg, resulting in increased Hg methylation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delali Tulasi
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon, P. O. Box LG 80, Accra, Ghana.
| | - Vesna Fajon
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Joze Kotnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Yaroslav Shlyapnikov
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dennis K Adotey
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon, P. O. Box LG 80, Accra, Ghana
| | - Yaw Serfor-Armah
- School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, College of Basic and Applied Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
- Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Legon, P. O. Box LG 80, Accra, Ghana
| | - Milena Horvat
- Jozef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jozef Stefan Institute, Jamova Cesta 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Wickliffe JK, Lichtveld MY, Zijlmans CW, MacDonald-Ottevanger S, Shafer M, Dahman C, Harville EW, Drury S, Landburg G, Ouboter P. Exposure to total and methylmercury among pregnant women in Suriname: sources and public health implications. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2021; 31:117-125. [PMID: 32461550 PMCID: PMC7704553 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-020-0233-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has found that women and children living in rural, interior communities in Suriname have high concentrations of mercury in hair. Freshwater fish from these areas also have high concentrations of mercury. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining operations in parts of the country use elemental mercury to extract gold from soils and sediments. Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations have been determined in hair and blood from pregnant women across the country. Pregnant women from interior communities have significantly higher concentrations of both total and methylmercury in hair (median total mercury in hair 3.64 µg/g) compared with pregnant women from two urban coastal cities, Paramaribo (0.63 µg/g) and Nickerie (0.74 µg/g). Total and methylmercury concentrations in blood and hair are highly correlated (r = 0.986, r = 0.974) with methylmercury making up 86% of the total in blood and 97% of the total in hair. Most women in the interior regions rely heavily on local fish as part of their regular diet, and many live outsides of areas with active ASGM operations. This study demonstrates that diet and fish consumption largely govern mercury exposures in pregnant women in Suriname.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Wickliffe
- Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
| | - Maureen Y Lichtveld
- Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - C Wilco Zijlmans
- Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Scientific Research Center Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | | | - Martin Shafer
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53718, USA
| | - Christa Dahman
- Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53718, USA
| | - Emily W Harville
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Stacy Drury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Gwendolyn Landburg
- National Zoological Collection of Suriname/Environmental Research Center (NZCS/CMO), Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Paul Ouboter
- National Zoological Collection of Suriname/Environmental Research Center (NZCS/CMO), Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname
- Institute for Neotropical Wildlife and Environmental Studies (NeoWild), Paramaribo, Suriname
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Clackett SP, Porter TJ, Lehnherr I. The tree-ring mercury record of Klondike gold mining at Bear Creek, central Yukon. Environ Pollut 2021; 268:115777. [PMID: 33120147 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Use of elemental mercury (Hg0) to enhance placer gold recovery is an effective method dating back centuries, but is associated with significant atmospheric Hg0 losses. This method was widely used in the Canadian Klondike region during most of the 20th century when the mining industry experienced rapid growth. While the health risks associated with Hg0 pollution are now well understood, few studies have assessed the environmental legacy of Hg0 use in the Klondike. We used an annually resolved Picea glauca tree-ring Hg record (1864-2015) to reconstruct and evaluate changes in local atmospheric Hg0 concentrations associated with gold production at the Bear Creek mining camp. Major temporal trends in the record are consistent with the scale of Bear Creek operations and are distinct from background trends at an unimpacted control site. Tree-ring Hg concentration increased most rapidly from 1923 to 1930, a period when several major mining operations were consolidated at Bear Creek. The highest Hg concentrations, ∼2.5× greater than pre-mining era, occurred in the 1930s, coinciding with maximum gold production at this site. Post-World War II economic factors adversely affected the industry, causing declining tree-ring Hg concentrations from 1939 to 1966. Closure of the Bear Creek camp in 1966 coincided with the strongest tree-ring Hg decline, although a return to background levels did not occur until the 1990s, likely due to re-emission of legacy Hg0 from contaminated soils. Finally, a robust increase was observed over the last decade, similar to other tree-ring Hg records in N.W. Canada, which is linked to rising Hg0 emissions in Asia. The Bear Creek tree-ring Hg record provides a unique opportunity to study the impact of Klondike gold mining on the local environment at annual resolution and demonstrates great potential to use Picea tree rings to study past changes in atmospheric Hg0 from local and global emissions. MAIN FINDINGS: A 151-year long, annually resolved tree-ring Hg record was developed at a historic Klondike gold-mining site to investigate the influence of mining-related Hg0 emissions on the local atmosphere and environment. Compared to a control site, the tree-ring Hg record documents highly elevated atmospheric Hg0 concentrations during the period mining activities were ongoing at this site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney P Clackett
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
| | - Trevor J Porter
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada.
| | - Igor Lehnherr
- Department of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto - Mississauga, Mississauga, Canada
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Shafiei F, Watts MP, Pajank L, Moreau JW. The effect of heavy metals on thiocyanate biodegradation by an autotrophic microbial consortium enriched from mine tailings. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 105:417-427. [PMID: 33263791 PMCID: PMC7778618 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10983-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Bioremediation systems represent an environmentally sustainable approach to degrading industrially generated thiocyanate (SCN−), with low energy demand and operational costs and high efficiency and substrate specificity. However, heavy metals present in mine tailings effluent may hamper process efficiency by poisoning thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortia. Here, we experimentally tested the tolerance of an autotrophic SCN−-degrading bacterial consortium enriched from gold mine tailings for Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, and As. All of the selected metals inhibited SCN− biodegradation to different extents, depending on concentration. At pH of 7.8 and 30 °C, complete inhibition of SCN− biodegradation by Zn, Cu, Ni, and Cr occurred at 20, 5, 10, and 6 mg L−1, respectively. Lower concentrations of these metals decreased the rate of SCN− biodegradation, with relatively long lag times. Interestingly, the microbial consortium tolerated As even at 500 mg L−1, although both the rate and extent of SCN− biodegradation were affected. Potentially, the observed As tolerance could be explained by the origin of our microbial consortium in tailings derived from As-enriched gold ore (arsenopyrite). This study highlights the importance of considering metal co-contamination in bioreactor design and operation for SCN− bioremediation at mine sites. Key points • Both the efficiency and rate of SCN−biodegradation were inhibited by heavy metals, to different degrees depending on type and concentration of metal. • The autotrophic microbial consortium was capable of tolerating high concentrations of As, potential having adapted to higher As levels derived from the tailings source. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-020-10983-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Shafiei
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Mathew P Watts
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Lukas Pajank
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - John W Moreau
- School of Earth Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia. .,School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK.
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Salazar-Camacho C, Salas-Moreno M, Paternina-Uribe R, Marrugo-Negrete J, Díez S. Dataset of concentrations of mercury and methylmercury in fish from a tropical river impacted by gold mining in the Colombian Pacific. Data Brief 2020; 33:106513. [PMID: 33294512 PMCID: PMC7689365 DOI: 10.1016/j.dib.2020.106513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This data article includes information on the impact of gold mining along five zones of a tropical river in the Pacific region of Colombia. The concentrations of total mercury (THg), total length, mertimercury (MeHg) were determined in 16 species of fish. With this information, it was shown as the concentrations of mercury in fish are influenced by the distribution in the contamination along the Atrato River Basin [1]. Further, THg and MeHg concentrations were related with the trophic level to show biomagnification, and with total length to show bioaccumulation, which is important to establish the potential risk to the environment and also to the health of the inhabitants living along the basin from the consumption of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Salazar-Camacho
- Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, Biology Department - Biosistematic Research Group, Quibdó 270008, Colombia
| | - Manuel Salas-Moreno
- Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, Biology Department - Biosistematic Research Group, Quibdó 270008, Colombia
| | | | - José Marrugo-Negrete
- Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 No. 76-103, Montería, Córdoba 230003, Colombia
| | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Au Yong Lyn A. Male employment and female intra-household decision-making: a Mexican gold mining case study. Rev Econ Househ 2020; 19:699-737. [PMID: 33223979 PMCID: PMC7671828 DOI: 10.1007/s11150-020-09520-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study explores the effect of economic booms in male-dominated industries like mining on female intra-household decision-making power. Using the 2007-2008 global financial crisis as an exogenous event which led to a gold mining boom in Mexico, I find that women living in gold endowed municipalities experienced higher decision-making power contrary to some theoretical predictions. These results appear to be consistent with unitary household bargaining models which assume income pooling, as female decision-making power increased despite no changes in female labor force participation and an observed increase in male employment. Findings from a separate survey additionally show that while women residing in gold endowed states had higher decision-making power, they were also more likely to suffer from intimate partner violence (IPV). This suggests that a woman's intra-household decision-making authority is not necessarily negatively correlated with her risk of IPV as posited in feminist theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Au Yong Lyn
- ETH Zurich, KOF Swiss Economic Institute, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
- Munich Graduate School of Economics (MGSE), Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, Kaulbachstrasse 45, 80539 Munich, Germany
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Bastos WR, Dórea JG, Lacerda LD, Almeida R, Costa-Junior WA, Baía CC, Sousa-Filho IF, Sousa EA, Oliveira IAS, Cabral CS, Manzatto AG, Carvalho DP, Ribeiro KAN, Malm O. Dynamics of Hg and MeHg in the Madeira River basin (Western Amazon) before and after impoundment of a run-of-river hydroelectric dam. Environ Res 2020; 189:109896. [PMID: 32979999 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The impact of a hydroelectric run-of-river (RoR) dam construction on the dynamics of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) is of interest to the environment and health of human and wild life. We monitored (May 2010 to October 2018) THg and MeHg in the waters and in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Madeira River and its tributaries (before and after dam construction) to evaluate changes upstream and downstream from the Santo Antonio Hydroelectric Dam (SAHD). We collected 2826 samples of water and SPM at sampling stations upstream (UPMD-01, UPMD-02 and UPMD-03) and downstream the Madeira River (DWMD-04, DWMD-05 and DWMD-06), and Tributaries upstream (Branco River, Jaci-Parana River, Jatuarana-I Igarapé, Contra River, Caripunas Igarapé, Ceara Igarapé, and Teotonio Igarapé) and downstream (Jatuarana-II Igarapé and Belmont Igarapé) from the SAHD and monitored water and the total load of SPM. SPM was significantly higher in the Madeira River (median: 178.63 mg.L-1) than in upstream and downstream tributaries (median: 15.30 mg.L-1); however, the THg and MeHg concentrations were significantly higher in the tributaries (median: 161.14 ng g-1 and 9.03 ng g-1, respectively) than in the mainstream Madeira River (median = 57.06 ng g-1 and 1.63 ng g-1, respectively). THg concentration in the water was significantly higher in the mainstream Madeira River (median = 6.51 ng.L-1) than in the tributaries (median = 2.57 ng.L-1). However, the percentage of methylation in the tributaries (median = 4.9%) was 4-times higher than in the Madeira River (median: 1.3%). The significantly higher MeHg percentages in the tributaries may indicate natural (hydro-bio-geochemical factors) still predominant in this changing landscape of the Western Amazon. So far, the data suggest that this RoR has not yet impacted the THg and MeHg concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanderley R Bastos
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil.
| | - José G Dórea
- Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brazil
| | - Luiz D Lacerda
- Instituto de Ciências Do Mar, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Almeida
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil; Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Ambientais, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | - Célia C Baía
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Izidro F Sousa-Filho
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil; Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eduardo A Sousa
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil
| | | | - Cássio S Cabral
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Angelo G Manzatto
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental WCP, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Brazil
| | - Dario P Carvalho
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Santo Antônio Energia, Porto Velho, RO, Brazil
| | | | - Olaf Malm
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal Do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Carrasco-Rueda F, Loiselle BA, Frederick PC. Mercury bioaccumulation in tropical bats from a region of active artisanal and small-scale gold mining. Ecotoxicology 2020; 29:1032-1042. [PMID: 32323107 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-020-02195-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury negatively affects human and animal health. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining can be a major local source of mercury contamination, especially into aquatic systems in tropical areas. Animals associated with mercury-contaminated aquatic systems are at high risk of experiencing effects of this heavy metal, but it is not clear how far the effects may extend into nearby terrestrial systems. We report mercury contamination levels in bats in agricultural areas at increasing distances from gold mining (~3-89 km of distance). We hypothesized that bat mercury concentrations would differ between feeding guilds, land use types, and be higher at sites closer to gold mining areas. We collected 112 fur samples from 30 bat species and eight guilds, and provide the first reports of concentrations in 12 species. All mercury concentrations were below the level at which health is likely to be affected (10 ppm). We found guild-influenced differences among mercury concentration levels, with the highest concentrations in aerial insectivores and carnivores, and the lowest in canopy frugivores. Our results suggest insectivorous and carnivorous bats may still be at some risk even at sites distant from aquatic mercury contamination. We did not find an effect of agricultural land-use type on mercury concentrations within species or guilds, suggesting mercury contamination did not extend to agricultural sites from areas of gold mining activities, and that these agricultural activities themselves were not an important source of mercury. We conclude bats did not demonstrate a signature of mercury risk either as a result of proximity of gold mining, or as a result of agricultural activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Carrasco-Rueda
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
- Keller Science Action Center, The Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL, 60603, USA.
| | - Bette A Loiselle
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
- Center for Latin American Studies, University of Florida, 319 Grinter Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Peter C Frederick
- Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
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Fritz B, Aichele C, Schmidt M. Environmental impact of high-value gold scrap recycling. Int J Life Cycle Assess 2020; 25:1930-1941. [PMID: 32863598 PMCID: PMC7445229 DOI: 10.1007/s11367-020-01809-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The gold routes satisfying the global gold supply are mining (74%), recycling of high-value gold (23%), and electronic scraps (3%). Besides its applications in the investment, jewelry, and industrial sector, gold also has a bad image. The gold production in industrial as well as artisanal and small-scale mines creates negative impacts such as resource depletion, extensive chemical use, toxic emissions, high energy consumption, and social concerns that are of great importance. On the other hand, almost all gold is recycled and has historically always been. In common life cycle assessment (LCA) databases, there is no data on recycling of high-value gold available. This article attempts to answer the question what the ecological benefits of this recycling are. METHOD In this study, we were able to collect process data on the most commonly used high-value gold scrap recycling process, the aqua regia method, from several state-of-the-art German refineries. With this data, life cycle inventories were created and a life cycle model was produced to finally generate life cycle impacts of high-value gold scrap recycling. RESULTS This study contains the corresponding inventories and thus enables other interested parties to use these processes for their own LCA studies. The results show that high-value gold scrap recycling has a considerably lower environmental impact than electronic gold scrap recycling and mining. For example, high-value gold scrap recycling in Germany results in a cumulative energy demand (CED) of 820 MJ and a global warming potential (GWP) of 53 kg-CO2-Eq. per kg gold. In comparison, common datasets indicate CED and GWP levels of nearly 8 GJ and 1 t-CO2-Eq. per kg gold, respectively, for electronic scrap recycling and levels of 240 GJ and 16 t-CO2-Eq. per kg gold, respectively, for mining. CONCLUSION The results show that buying gold from precious metal recycling facilities with high technological standards and a reliable origin of the recycling material is about 300 times better than primary production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Fritz
- Institute for Industrial Ecology, Pforzheim University, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany
| | - Carin Aichele
- Institute for Industrial Ecology, Pforzheim University, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany
| | - Mario Schmidt
- Institute for Industrial Ecology, Pforzheim University, Tiefenbronner Str. 65, 75175 Pforzheim, Germany
- Faculty of Sustainability, Leuphana University Luneburg, Universitatsallee 1, 21335 Luneburg, Germany
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Castilla-Acevedo SF, Betancourt-Buitrago LA, Dionysiou DD, Machuca-Martínez F. Ultraviolet light-mediated activation of persulfate for the degradation of cobalt cyanocomplexes. J Hazard Mater 2020; 392:122389. [PMID: 32172070 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The ultraviolet light activation of persulfate (PS) was evaluated for the degradation of cobalt cyanocomplexes, which are considered as some of the most recalcitrant compounds present in mining wastewater. The influence of the solution pH (11 and 13), initial concentration of PS (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 0.9 g/L), dissolved oxygen and initial concentration of contaminant were evaluated. Photolysis results showed that [Formula: see text] is photosensitive to UVC radiation, while the activation of PS by alkaline pH does not contribute to the degradation of the cyanocomplex. There was no presence of CN- at both solution pH values using UVC/PS. But at pH 13, the degradation of cobalt cyanocomplexes and the pseudo-first-order rate constant increased. This was attributed to the effective conversion of SO4•- to HO• and to the increase in the oxidative photolysis of PS at high pH. Additional tests demonstrated better performance of UVC/PS in the absence of oxygen which may be caused by the quenching effect of O2 to the higher energy excited state of the cyanocomplex that must be reached to initiate degradation reactions. Increasing the initial concentration of [Formula: see text] will increase the amount of Co removed but it represents the higher specific energy consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Fernando Castilla-Acevedo
- Natural and Exact Sciences Department, Universidad de la Costa, Calle 58 #55 - 66, 080002, Barranquilla, Colombia; Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| | | | - Dionysios Demetriou Dionysiou
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0012, United States
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Knight D, Ehrlich R, Cois A, Fielding K, Grant AD, Churchyard G. Predictors of silicosis and variation in prevalence across mines among employed gold miners in South Africa. BMC Public Health 2020; 20:829. [PMID: 32487111 PMCID: PMC7268682 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-020-08876-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The stated intention to eliminate silicosis from the South African goldmining industry as well as current programmes to find and compensate ex-miners with silicosis require an understanding of variation in silicosis prevalence across the industry. We aimed to identify the predictors of radiological silicosis in a large sample of working miners across gold mines in South Africa. Methods Routine surveillance chest radiographs were collected from 15 goldmine “clusters” in a baseline survey undertaken in preparation for a separate tuberculosis isoniazid prophylaxis trial. All images were read for silicosis by a health professional experienced in using the International Labour Organisation (ILO) classification. Profusion thresholds of > 1/0 and > 1/1 were used. Demographic and occupational information was obtained by questionnaire. Predictors of silicosis were examined in a multivariable logistic regression model, including age, gender, racial ascription, country of origin, years since starting mine employment, mine shaft, skill category, underground work status and tuberculosis. Results The crude silicosis prevalence at ILO > 1/1 was 3.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5–4.1%]. The range across mine shafts was 0.8–6.9%. After adjustment for covariates, the interquartile range across shafts was reduced from 2.4 to 1.2%. Black miners [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.8; 95% CI 1.1–7.2] and miners in full-time underground work (aOR 2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.4) had substantially elevated odds of silicosis, while workers from Mozambique had lower odds (aOR 0.54; 95% CI 0.38–0.77). Silicosis odds rose sharply with both age and years since starting in the industry (p for linear trend < 0.005), with 95.5% of affected miners having > 15 years since first exposure and 2.2% < 10 years. Conclusions In surveillance of silicosis in working gold miners time since first exposure remains a powerful predictor. Age appears to be an independent predictor, while the detection of radiological silicosis in short-service miners requires attention. Public risk reporting by mines should include factors bearing on silicosis prevalence, specifically dust concentrations, with independent verification. Studies of silicosis and tuberculosis in ex-miners are needed, supported by an accessible electronic database of the relevant medical and dust exposure records of all gold miners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dave Knight
- International SOS, Singapore, Singapore. .,Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, PO Box 43915, Scarborough, Cape Town, 7975, South Africa.
| | - Rodney Ehrlich
- Centre for Environmental and Occupational Health Research, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, PO Box 43915, Scarborough, Cape Town, 7975, South Africa
| | - Annibale Cois
- Burden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Parow Valley, South Africa.,Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Katherine Fielding
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Alison D Grant
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Gavin Churchyard
- School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Kükrer S, Erginal AE, Kılıç Ş, Bay Ö, Akarsu T, Öztura E. Ecological risk assessment of surface sediments of Çardak Lagoon along a human disturbance gradient. Environ Monit Assess 2020; 192:359. [PMID: 32399640 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08336-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Lagoons are the hotspot ecosystems whose sustainability should be secured using the ecological assessment indicators. This study aimed to quantify the surface sediment metal distributions of Çardak Lagoon in the Marmara region of Turkey, to characterize their natural and anthropogenic sources and transport mechanisms and to assess their potential ecological risks. The surface sediment samples were collected from 11 stations using Van Veen grab, while for the background values to be determined, core sampling was used from two stations. The analyses of multiple elements, total organic carbon, carbonate, and chlorophyll degradation by-products were carried out to characterize sediments. Enrichment factor and the indices of potential ecological and toxic risks were applied to assess the ecological status of the surface sediments. The operation of the gold mine in the close vicinity was found to be responsible for the enrichment of Au and Hg in the lagoon sediments. Cd, Tl, Sb, and Sr were the other elements responsible for the enrichment. The potential risk levels of the lagoon varied between the low and significant levels. The riskiest elements were found to be Hg and Cd which in turn pointed to the mining and agricultural activities as the most dominant human disturbance. The toxic risk index of Çardak Lagoon was estimated to range from 5.21 to 11.00, with a low mean value of 7.98. The C:N ratio range of 8.52 to 134.93 (a mean of 29.07) indicated that the organic C source was mostly of the terrestrial origin, in particular, from the surrounding agricultural lands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serkan Kükrer
- Department of Geography, Faculty of Humanities and Letters, Ardahan University, 75002, Ardahan, Turkey.
| | - Ahmet Evren Erginal
- Department of Turkish and Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Şeref Kılıç
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ardahan University, 75002, Ardahan, Turkey
| | - Özender Bay
- Department of Turkish and Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Taylan Akarsu
- Department of Turkish and Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100, Çanakkale, Turkey
| | - Erdal Öztura
- Department of Turkish and Social Science Education, Faculty of Education, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, 17100, Çanakkale, Turkey
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30
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Pelletier N, Chételat J, Cousens B, Zhang S, Stepner D, Muir DCG, Vermaire JC. Lead contamination from gold mining in Yellowknife Bay (Northwest Territories), reconstructed using stable lead isotopes. Environ Pollut 2020; 259:113888. [PMID: 32023786 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The contributions of contaminant sources are difficult to resolve in the sediment record using concentration gradients and flux reconstruction alone. In this study, we demonstrate that source partitioning using lead isotopes provide complementary and unique information to concentration gradients to evaluate point-source releases, transport, and recovery of metal mining pollution in the environment. We analyzed eight sediment cores, collected within 24 km of two gold mines, for Pb stable isotopes, Pb concentration, and sediment chronology. Stable Pb isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb, 208Pb/204Pb) of mining ore were different from those of background (pre-disturbance) sediment, allowing the use of a quantitative mixing model. As previously reported for some Arctic lakes, Pb isotope ratios indicated negligible aerosol inputs to sediment from regional or long-range pollution sources, possibly related to low annual precipitation. Maximum recorded Pb flux at each site reached up to 63 mg m-2 yr-1 in the period corresponding to early years of mining when pollution mitigation measures were at a minimum (1950s-1960s). The maximum contribution of mining-derived Pb to these fluxes declined with distance from the mines from 92 ± 8% to 8 ± 4% at the farthest site. Mining-derived Pb was still present at the sediment surface within 9 km of Giant Mine more than ten years after mine closure (5-26 km, 95% confidence interval) and model estimates suggest it could be present for another ∼50-100 years. These results highlight the persistence of Pb pollution in freshwater sediment and the usefulness of Pb stable isotopes to quantify spatial and temporal trends of contamination from mining pollution, particularly as concentrations approach background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pelletier
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - John Chételat
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 0H3, Canada.
| | - Brian Cousens
- Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Shuangquang Zhang
- Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Dan Stepner
- Ottawa-Carleton Geoscience Centre, Earth Sciences, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Derek C G Muir
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canada Centre for Inland Waters, Burlington, ON L7S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jesse C Vermaire
- Geography and Environmental Studies, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada; Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
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31
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Marrugo-Negrete J, Vargas-Licona S, Ruiz-Guzmán JA, Marrugo-Madrid S, Bravo AG, Díez S. Human health risk of methylmercury from fish consumption at the largest floodplain in Colombia. Environ Res 2020; 182:109050. [PMID: 32069752 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Colombia is one of the countries with the highest emissions of mercury (Hg) to the environment, due to its use in gold mining. This study evaluated the human health risk from exposure to Hg through fish consumption in 11 municipalities located in the Mojana region, northern Colombia. The study participants (n = 839) were categorized into three population groups: children (CHD), women of childbearing age (WCHA) and the rest of population (RP). Total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations were evaluated in the top ten most consumed fish species (n = 292). Median concentrations (range: 0.22-0.58 μg/g ww) of the five carnivorous fish species exceeded the reference limit established by FAO/WHO (0.2 μg/g ww) for vulnerable populations. For 6 of the 10 studied fish species, the estimated weekly intake (EWI) in children was above the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI, 1.6 μg/kg bw/week) of MeHg established by JECFA. EWI values for WCHA were above PTWI in 4 fish species, whereas in general, for RP group values were below PTWI (3.2 μg/kg bw/week). Our assessment of potential risks to MeHg exposure indicated that most of the consumed fish could generate negative effects in vulnerable groups, because according to ingestion rate, MeHg permissible is, in some cases, up to 4 times higher than reference limits. Consumption advisories should be a guidance to avoid risk, gain nutritional benefits, and sustain fish populations. Because its high MeHg levels as well as high ingestion, it is recommended that inhabitants of this region should stop eating certain kinds of fish and the whole fish as a single meal. To reduce its harmful intake, we have proposed a didactic strategy based on marbles that control the portion of fish they are eating.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Siday Marrugo-Madrid
- Universidad de Córdoba, Carrera 6 No. 76-103, Montería, Córdoba, Colombia; Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea G Bravo
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Díez
- Department of Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, E-08034, Barcelona, Spain.
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Compaore WF, Dumoulin A, Rousseau DPL. Metals and metalloid in gold mine pit lakes and fish intake risk assessment, Burkina Faso. Environ Geochem Health 2020; 42:563-577. [PMID: 31432347 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00390-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the levels of metals and metalloid (arsenic) in pit lakes from a gold mining site and in their fishes and assess their potential health effect on the local human population, in order to evaluate whether pit lakes can be safely used for aquaculture. Water quality data were collected from two pit lakes, namely West Pit 1 (WP1) and West Pit 2 (WP2), and the Nakambé River (NR) in Burkina Faso. Fish consumption rates in different villages were assessed through a survey. Commonly available fish were sampled from the pit lakes and the NR. Fish from the pit lakes contained higher amounts of metals and metalloid than fish from the river (WP1 ~ WP2 < NR). Of the four species of fish considered, Oreochromis niloticus and Hydrocynus forskahlii had the highest metals and metalloid content and Bagrus bajad and Clarias anguillaris had the lowest. The results indicated that the consumption of the whole fish results in higher metals and metalloid intake than consumption of the fleshy part only. Due to the low fish intake of 5.34 ± 2.60 g/day/adult deduced from the nutritional survey, exposure to metals and metalloid was below referential doses. The highest arsenic intake comes from eating entire O. niloticus (0.058 mg/day/adult) from WP1. Eating O. niloticus and C. anguillaris exposes people to an arsenic intake of 0.01 mg/day/adult. The arsenic contents of H. forskahlii and B. bajad were below the method detection limit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendkuuni Florentin Compaore
- Laboratory of Industrial Water and Ecotechnology, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium.
| | - Ann Dumoulin
- Laboratory of Industrial Water and Ecotechnology, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Diederik P L Rousseau
- Laboratory of Industrial Water and Ecotechnology, Department of Green Chemistry and Technology, Ghent University Campus Kortrijk, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
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Shrestha S, Gunawardana SK, Piman T, Babel MS. Assessment of the impact of climate change and mining activities on streamflow and selected metal's loading in the Chindwin River, Myanmar. Environ Res 2020; 181:108942. [PMID: 31796258 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.108942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The rapid expansion in mining activities is deteriorating the water quality in the Chindwin River of Myanmar. In addition, climate change may also aggravate this situation in future. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish a connection between hydrology, mining area, heavy metal loading, and climate change in the Chindwin River. The hydrology of the upper Chindwin basin was modelled using SHETRAN hydrological model. Geochemical model PHREEQC was utilised to conduct speciation and saturation indexes modelling along the river in order to quantify the precipitated minerals along the river. Thereafter a regression relationship along with LOADEST model was used to quantify the heavy metal loads. Future climate was projected using four RCM's namely ACCESS1-CSIRO-CCAM, CCSM4-CSIRO-CCAM, CNRM-CM5-CSIRO-CCAM and MPI-ESM-LR-CSIRO-CCAM. Future discharges at water quality monitoring stations were simulated using the averaged ensembles. Finally, the heavy metal loading under future climate scenarios were analysed. Results indicate that climate change is likely to reduce future discharges by 3.4%-36.5% in all stations except in the Mokekalae station which shows 1.3%-9.4% increase in the near future discharges. Also, the projected metal loading under future climate conditions shows a decreasing pattern which is similar to the projected discharge pattern. In both baseline and future climate conditions, the area between stations Naung Po Aung and Uru downstream show the highest load effluent for both arsenic and mercury while the area between stations Uru downstream and Mokekalae show the highest load of iron effluent. Although future heavy metal loadings are expected to decrease, mining activities should be carefully monitored, since they discharge a large amount of toxic heavy metal loadings into the Chindwin River which is also expected to suffer a decrease streamflow in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangam Shrestha
- Water Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand.
| | - Shakthi K Gunawardana
- Water Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
| | - Thanapon Piman
- Water Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand; Stockholm Environment Institute, Asia Centre, Chulalongkorn Soi 64, Phyathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 1033, Thailand
| | - Mukand S Babel
- Water Engineering and Management, Asian Institute of Technology, P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120, Thailand
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Aguilar NC, Faria MCS, Pedron T, Batista BL, Mesquita JP, Bomfeti CA, Rodrigues JL. Isolation and characterization of bacteria from a brazilian gold mining area with a capacity of arsenic bioaccumulation. Chemosphere 2020; 240:124871. [PMID: 31546186 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In Paracatu, a city in Minas Gerais State (Brazil), the gold mineral extraction produces wastes that contribute to environmental contamination by arsenic. This work describes the evaluation of arsenic concentration from soil of a gold mining area in Paracatu and the selection of arsenic resistant bacteria. In the process of culturing enrichment, 38 bacterial strains were isolated and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in solid medium for each strain. Three bacterial strains named P1C1Ib, P2Ic and P2IIB were resistant to 3000 mg L-1 of arsenite. Analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequences revealed that these bacteria belong to Bacillus cereus and Lysinibacillus boronitolerans species. After cultivation of the strains P1C1Ib, P2Ic and P2IIIb, 69.38%-71.88% of arsenite and 82.39%-85.72% of arsenate concentrations were reduced from the culture medium, suggesting the potential application of theses strains in bioremediation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naidilene C Aguilar
- Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, 39803-371, Brazil
| | - Márcia C S Faria
- Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, 39803-371, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Pedron
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, 09210170, Brazil
| | - Bruno L Batista
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo, 09210170, Brazil
| | - João P Mesquita
- Faculdade de Ciências Exatas (FACET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, 39100-000, Brazil
| | - Cleide A Bomfeti
- Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, 39803-371, Brazil
| | - Jairo L Rodrigues
- Instituto de Ciência, Engenharia e Tecnologia (ICET), Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Teófilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, 39803-371, Brazil.
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Maury-Brachet R, Gentes S, Dassié EP, Feurtet-Mazel A, Vigouroux R, Laperche V, Gonzalez P, Hanquiez V, Mesmer-Dudons N, Durrieu G, Legeay A. Mercury contamination levels in the bioindicator piscivorous fish Hoplias aïmara in French Guiana rivers: mapping for risk assessment. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2020; 27:3624-3636. [PMID: 30610584 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-3983-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In French Guiana, native populations present high level of mercury contamination, which has been linked to the consumption of contaminated fishes. The goal of this study is to undertake a cartography of mercury contamination levels in fishes from the six main Guiana rivers. The selected species for this study is the ubiquitous piscivorous fish Hoplias aimara. A total number of 575 fishes from 134 discrete fishing sites are regrouped into 51 river sectors. Results from this study permits to rank the six main Guiana rivers by their mean level of contamination: Oyapock (0.548 mg kg-1), Comté (0.624 mg kg-1), Maroni (0.671 mg kg-1), Approuague (0.684 mg kg-1), Mana (0.675 mg kg-1), and Sinnamary (1.025 mg kg-1). The contamination is however not spatially homogenous along each river, and a map of the different levels of mercury contamination in fishes is provided. Sectors of low mean Hg contamination are observed both upstream (0.471 mg kg-1) and downstream (0.424 mg kg-1), corresponding to areas without any influence of gold mining activities and areas under the influence of estuarine dilution, respectively. Anoxia and gold mining activities are found to be the two main factors responsible for the high mercury concentration in fish muscles. While mean levels of mercury contaminations are higher in anoxia areas (1.029 mg kg-1), contaminations induced by gold mining activities (0.717 mg kg-1) present the most harmful consequences to human populations. No significant differences in Hg concentrations are observed between 2005 and 2014 for neither a pristine nor a gold mining area, while Hg concentration differences are observed between former (0.550 mg kg-1) and current gold mining sites (0.717 mg kg-1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Régine Maury-Brachet
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France.
| | - Sophie Gentes
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | - Emilie P Dassié
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | - Agnès Feurtet-Mazel
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | | | - Valérie Laperche
- French Geological Survey, Laboratoire d'Environnement et d'Écotechnologies, Orléans, France
| | - Patrice Gonzalez
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | - Vincent Hanquiez
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | - Nathalie Mesmer-Dudons
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
| | - Gilles Durrieu
- Université de Bretagne Sud, LMBA UMR 6205, Lorient, France
| | - Alexia Legeay
- Université de Bordeaux, UMR EPOC 5805, Station Marine, Place du Docteur Peyneau, 33120, Arcachon, France
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Mosquera-Guerra F, Trujillo F, Parks D, Oliveira-da-Costa M, Van Damme PA, Echeverría A, Franco N, Carvajal-Castro JD, Mantilla-Meluk H, Marmontel M, Armenteras-Pascual D. Mercury in Populations of River Dolphins of the Amazon and Orinoco Basins. Ecohealth 2019; 16:743-758. [PMID: 31712931 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-019-01451-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In the Amazon and Orinoco basins, mercury has been released from artisanal and industrial gold mining since the Colonial time, as well as a result of deforestation and burning of primary forest, that release natural deposits of methyl mercury, affecting the local aquatic vertebrate fauna. This study reports the presence of mercury in river dolphins' genera Inia and Sotalia. Mercury concentrations were analysed in muscle tissue samples collected from 46 individuals at the Arauca and Orinoco Rivers (Colombia), the Amazon River (Colombia), a tributary of the Itenez River (Bolivia) and from the Tapajos River (Brazil). Ranges of total mercury (Hg) concentration in muscle tissue of the four different taxa sampled were: I. geoffrensis humboldtiana 0.003-3.99 mg kg-1 ww (n = 21, Me = 0.4), I. g. geoffrensis 0.1-2.6 mg kg-1 ww (n = 15, Me = 0.55), I. boliviensis 0.03-0.4 mg kg-1 ww (n = 8, Me = 0.1) and S. fluviatilis 0.1-0.87 mg kg-1 ww (n = 2, Me = 0.5). The highest Hg concentration in our study was obtained at the Orinoco basin, recorded from a juvenile male of I. g. humboldtiana (3.99 mg kg-1 ww). At the Amazon basin, higher concentrations of mercury were recorded in the Tapajos River (Brazil) from an adult male of I. g. geoffrensis (2.6 mg kg-1 ww) and the Amazon River from an adult female of S. fluviatilis (0.87 mg kg-1 ww). Our data support the presence of total Hg in river dolphins distributed across the evaluated basins, evidencing the role of these cetaceans as sentinel species and bioindicators of the presence of this heavy metal in natural aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Mosquera-Guerra
- Fundación Omacha, Calle 84 No. 21-64, Barrio El Polo, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
- Grupo de Ecología del Paisaje y Modelación de Ecosistemas-ECOLMOD, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
| | - F Trujillo
- Fundación Omacha, Calle 84 No. 21-64, Barrio El Polo, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - D Parks
- Whitley Fund for Nature, 110 Princedale Road l, London, W11 4NH, UK
| | | | - P A Van Damme
- Faunagua, final Av. Max Fernández final s/n - Plazuela Chillijchi (Arocagua Norte) - Sacaba, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - A Echeverría
- Faunagua, final Av. Max Fernández final s/n - Plazuela Chillijchi (Arocagua Norte) - Sacaba, Cochabamba, Bolivia
| | - N Franco
- Fundación Omacha, Calle 84 No. 21-64, Barrio El Polo, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - J D Carvajal-Castro
- Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
| | - H Mantilla-Meluk
- Programa de Biología, Universidad del Quindío, Carrera 15 No. 12 Norte, Armenia, Quindío, Colombia
| | - M Marmontel
- Instituto Mamirauá de Desenvolvimento Sustentável, Estrada do Bexiga, 2.584 Bairro Fonte Boa, Cx. Postal 38, Tefé, AM, 69.553-225, Brazil
| | - D Armenteras-Pascual
- Grupo de Ecología del Paisaje y Modelación de Ecosistemas-ECOLMOD, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra 30 No. 45-03, Bogotá, DC, Colombia
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Tran QB, Lohitnavy M, Phenrat T. Assessing potential hydrogen cyanide exposure from cyanide-contaminated mine tailing management practices in Thailand's gold mining. J Environ Manage 2019; 249:109357. [PMID: 31401446 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.109357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study assessed the effectiveness of the current cyanide management practice of a large gold mine as a case study of Thailand's cyanide-contaminated mine waste management policy. Most gold mines worldwide use cyanide to extract gold from ore, and various cyanide compounds, including hydrogen cyanide (HCN), are then discharged into a tailing storage facility (TSF). From there, HCN volatizes into the air, and people inhaling HCN can experience chronic, acute, or even fatal effects. Although recently only two gold mines operated in Thailand, many new gold mines are under consideration for future. Unfortunately, no specific government regulations for cyanide-contaminated mine waste management exist besides guidelines from environmental impact assessments prepared by the gold mines themselves. This raises concerns that cyanide volatilization may threaten public health. The current study addresses the need for vital scientific analysis by applying AERMOD modeling to simulate HCN dispersion from the gold mine studied, under 20 scenarios of various pH levels and cyanide concentrations. The results show that the HCN emissions cause acute effects to the public under most scenarios. Chronic effects also occur in scenarios of low pH or high cyanide concentration; however, no simulation showed fatalities. This study determined an acceptable cyanide concentration in TSF that is low enough to theoretically avoid dangerous public exposure. Results show that the mine's recent cyanide discharge limit of 20 mg/l, set by the mine itself, is not safe. To limit dangers from the mine's HCN emissions, cyanide levels in tailings must be carefully calculated and regulated using the HCN dispersion model, being sure to account for pH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quoc Ba Tran
- Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, 550000, Viet Nam; Research Unit for Integrated Natural Resources Remediation and Reclamation (IN3R), Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Sustainability of Health, Environment and Industry (SHEI), Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand
| | - Manupat Lohitnavy
- Center of Excellence for Environmental Health and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, Thailand; Pharmacokinetic Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Phitsanulok, Thailand
| | - Tanapon Phenrat
- Research Unit for Integrated Natural Resources Remediation and Reclamation (IN3R), Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand; Center of Excellence for Sustainability of Health, Environment and Industry (SHEI), Faculty of Engineering, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, 65000, Thailand.
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Lino AS, Kasper D, Guida YS, Thomaz JR, Malm O. Total and methyl mercury distribution in water, sediment, plankton and fish along the Tapajós River basin in the Brazilian Amazon. Chemosphere 2019; 235:690-700. [PMID: 31279119 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.06.212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 06/22/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is known as one of the major contaminants in the Amazon. The Tapajós River basin, in the Brazilian Amazon, has diverse anthropogenic activities which increase Hg concentrations in the aquatic ecosystem. Moreover, high concentrations of Hg are naturally found in this basin. Distribution of total (THg) and methyl (MeHg) mercury were assessed in unfiltered water (n = 47), suspended particulate matter (SPM, n = 30), superficial sediment (BS, n = 29), plankton (n = 28) and fishes (n = 129) from the Tapajós River basin. Suspended particles were the main carrier of Hg in the water column and sediment. Increased erosion, prompted by anthropic activities, led to higher Hg concentrations in water from the most impacted areas. Hg is transported mainly in particulate matter; thus, anthropic disturbances influence Hg concentrations downstream. Limnological parameters such as organic matter content influenced MeHg concentrations in water, plankton and sediment of the Tapajós basin. Hg methylation in total plankton was more efficient in lakes (13-66%) than in Tapajós River main channel (2-14%). Biotic and abiotic factors interact in a complex way in the aquatic ecosystem, making Hg concentrations to vary in food web. Gold mining and deforestation probably increase Hg levels in the Tapajós basin. Thus, in addition to Hg monitoring, prevention and remediation efforts should be focused on soil and sediment erosion control.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Lino
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - D Kasper
- Laboratório de Traçadores em Ciências Ambientais Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Y S Guida
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - J R Thomaz
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - O Malm
- Laboratório de Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna-Franca, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, 21941-900, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
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Douine M, Sanna A, Hiwat H, Briolant S, Nacher M, Belleoud D, Le Tourneau FM, Bogreau H, De Laval F. Investigation of a possible malaria epidemic in an illegal gold mine in French Guiana: an original approach in the remote Amazonian forest. Malar J 2019; 18:91. [PMID: 30902054 PMCID: PMC6431065 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-019-2721-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 03/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In April 2017, Suriname’s Ministry of Health alerted French Guiana’s Regional Health Agency (RHA) about an increase of imported malaria cases among people coming from an illegal gold mining site called Sophie, in French Guiana, a French overseas territory located in the Amazonian forest. Methods Due to safety issues and the remoteness of Sophie, the RHA requested the collaboration of the French Armed Forces for the epidemiological investigation. A medical unit, and six soldiers to ensure the security of the mission, were transported by helicopter. Results During the investigation, two malaria episodes were diagnosed among 46 persons. Twenty-six of them were from Sophie, where PCR-Plasmodium prevalence was estimated at 60% (15/26). This result was concordant with previous studies revealing high malaria endemicity in the gold miner population. The increase of imported cases in Suriname may have resulted from decreased access to under-the-counter anti-malarials and increased migration of gold miners to Suriname following a decline of the profitability of gold mining in a context of increased repression against illegal mining by the French army. Conclusion This investigation of a suspicious malaria epidemic confirms the importance of malaria among illegal gold miners. Their mobility along the Guiana Shield and their health-seeking behaviour are likely to spread malaria in populations for which significant efforts are undertaken to fight against this disease. Fighting malaria in this population remains more relevant than ever. A pilot study (Malakit project) is currently in progress to evaluate the efficacy of kits for self-diagnosis and self-treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maylis Douine
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane - Inserm1424, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana.
| | - Alice Sanna
- Health Regional Agency, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Helene Hiwat
- National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Sébastien Briolant
- French Armed Forces Institute for Biomedical Research (IRBA)/BAT/Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Marseille, France
| | - Mathieu Nacher
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane - Inserm1424, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana.,Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | - Didier Belleoud
- French Armed Forces Health Service in French Guiana, Cayenne, French Guiana
| | | | - Hervé Bogreau
- French Armed Forces Institute for Biomedical Research (IRBA)/BAT/Parasitology and Entomology Unit, Marseille, France.,French National Centre for Malaria (CNR Paludisme), Marseille, France.,IRD, AP-HM, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, UMR Vecteurs - Infections Tropicales et Méditerranéenne (VITROME), Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Franck De Laval
- French Armed Forces Health Service in French Guiana, Cayenne, French Guiana
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Song J, Liu Q, Sheng Y. Distribution and risk assessment of trace metals in riverine surface sediments in gold mining area. Environ Monit Assess 2019; 191:191. [PMID: 30810872 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7311-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Recognizing the pollution characteristics and potential risks of trace metals in sediments are important to protect water ecosystem safety. In the present study, a systematic investigation was performed to assess the pollution and risk level of trace metals in river sediments located in the greatest gold production base in China. The geo-accumulation index was used to assess the contamination degree. The sediment quality guidelines and potential ecological risk index were employed to complete an ecological risk assessment. A non-carcinogenic health risk assessment was also carried out to evaluate potential adverse health risks. Correlations and principal component analyses were applied to check relationships among trace metals and ascertain potential pollution sources. The results suggested that the sediments in the river were most polluted by As, Cd, and Hg followed by Cu, Pb, and Zn. The assessment of potential human health risk revealed that there was no significant non-carcinogenic risk to the inhabitants. Gold mining and smelting activities and the long-term excessive application of fertilizers and agrochemicals were identified as the main anthropogenic releases. This study contributed an understanding that possible sources, contamination degree, and ecological risk level of trace metals in riverine surface sediments in a gold mining area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiangmin Song
- Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering Technology of Shandong Province, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qunqun Liu
- Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering Technology of Shandong Province, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yanqing Sheng
- Research Center for Coastal Environment Engineering Technology of Shandong Province, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai, 264003, China.
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Douine M, Sanna A, Galindo M, Musset L, Pommier de Santi V, Marchesini P, Magalhaes ED, Suarez-Mutis M, Hiwat H, Nacher M, Vreden S, Garancher L. Malakit: an innovative pilot project to self-diagnose and self-treat malaria among illegal gold miners in the Guiana Shield. Malar J 2018; 17:158. [PMID: 29631588 PMCID: PMC5892004 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-018-2306-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Illegal gold miners in French Guiana, a French overseas territory ('département') located in Amazonia, often carry malaria parasites (up to 46.8%). While the Guiana Shield Region aims at malaria elimination, the high prevalence of Plasmodium in this hard-to-reach population in conjunction with frequent incorrect use of artemisinin-based anti-malarials could favour the emergence of resistant parasites. Due to geographical and regulatory issues in French Guiana, usual malaria control strategies cannot be implemented in this particular context. Therefore, new strategies targeting this specific population in the forest are required. METHODS Numerous discussions among health institutions and scientific partners from French Guiana, Brazil and Suriname have led to an innovative project based on the distribution of kits for self-diagnosis and self-treatment of Plasmodium infections. The kit-distribution will be implemented at "resting sites", which are areas across the border of French Guiana regularly frequented by gold miners. The main objective is to increase the appropriate use and complete malaria treatment after a positive malaria diagnosis with a rapid test, which will be evaluated with before-and-after cross-sectional studies. Monitoring indicators will be collected from health mediators at the time of kit distribution and during subsequent visits, and from illegal gold miners themselves, through a smartphone application. The project funding is multisource, including Ministries of Health of the three countries, WHO/PAHO, and the European Union. RESULTS This project will start in April 2018 as a 18 month pilot study led by the Clinical Investigation Centre of Cayenne. Results should be available at the end of 2019. DISCUSSION This innovative approach may have several limitations which should be taken into account, as potential side effects, kit misuse or resale, declarative main criteria, or no Plasmodium vivax curative treatment. Close monitoring is thus needed. CONCLUSIONS This project may be the best available solution to a specific and important public health challenge in the Guiana Shield. If the use of self-diagnosis and self-treatment approach is effective, this strategy could be sustained by health institutions in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maylis Douine
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Avenue des Flamboyant, BP 6006, Cayenne Cedex, 97306, French Guiana, France.
| | - Alice Sanna
- Health Regional Agency, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Muriel Galindo
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Avenue des Flamboyant, BP 6006, Cayenne Cedex, 97306, French Guiana, France
| | - Lise Musset
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, Centre National de Référence du Paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Vincent Pommier de Santi
- French Armed Forces Center for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), Camp Militaire de Sainte Marthe, Marseille, France.,IRD, AP-HM, VITROME, SSA, IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Aix Marseille Univ, Marseille, France
| | - Paola Marchesini
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helene Hiwat
- National Malaria Programme, Ministry of Health, Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Mathieu Nacher
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Avenue des Flamboyant, BP 6006, Cayenne Cedex, 97306, French Guiana, France.,Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Stephen Vreden
- Foundation for Scientific Research Suriname (SWOS), Paramaribo, Suriname
| | - Laure Garancher
- Pan American Health Organization, Barbados Office, Bridgetown, Barbados
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Schutzmeier P, Focil Baquerizo A, Castillo-Tandazo W, Focil N, Bose-O’Reilly S. Efficacy of N,N'bis-(2-mercaptoethyl) isophthalamide on mercury intoxication: a randomized controlled trial. Environ Health 2018; 17:15. [PMID: 29444690 PMCID: PMC5813329 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-018-0358-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chronic mercury intoxication is a severe health issue and occurs especially in gold mining communities. Common chelators used for improving mercury elimination are not everywhere available and challenged by poor cell wall penetration. This study is part of a feasibility trial and the aim was to gather first information about the efficacy of the newly developed chelator N,N'bis-(2-mercaptoethyl) isophthalamide (NBMI) on chronic mercury intoxication. METHODS In this three-armed, placebo-controlled randomized trial, 36 miners with mercury urine levels exceeding 15 μg/l were administered 100 mg NBMI, 300 mg NBMI or placebo for 14 days. Levels of mercury in urine [μg/l and μg/g creatinine] and plasma l were analyzed. Therapeutic effect was assessed using the medical intoxication score (MIS) and its single health outcomes (e.g. excessive salivation, sleeping problems), fatigue scores, a neuromotoric test battery (CATSYS) and a neurological outcome (Finger to nose test). RESULTS Physical fatigue was significantly decreased in the 300 mg NBMI group compared to the control. Mercury concentration in urine following 300 mg NBMI treatment was significantly lowered compared to control, however, this effect was less distinct with adjustment for creatinine. CONCLUSION NBMI showed an effect on physical fatigue and there were indications to positive effects on other symptoms as well. More comprehensive studies are mandatory to verify the effects of NBMI as a novel tool for treating mercury intoxications. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02486289 . Date of registration: June 24, 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Schutzmeier
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany
| | | | | | | | - Stephan Bose-O’Reilly
- Institute and Outpatient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, University Hospital Munich, Ziemssenstr. 1, D-80336 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT (University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology), A-6060 Hall i.T, Innsbruck, Austria
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Álvarez D, Torrejón F, Climent MJ, Garcia-Orellana J, Araneda A, Urrutia R. Historical anthropogenic mercury in two lakes of Central Chile: comparison between an urban and rural lake. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2018; 25:4596-4606. [PMID: 29192400 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0622-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Mercury concentrations in the environment tend to decrease in recent years due to environmental restrictions. Lakes store mercury in their sediments, making them potential secondary contamination sources. In South America, the occurrence of mercury in lake systems has been associated mainly with volcanic emissions and only few records anthropogenic contamination in the pre-Hispanic period. The objective of this research was to study historical anthropogenic mercury concentration in two lakes in Central Chile (La Señoraza and Pillo), in order to establish background mercury levels and their variations from preindustrial to modern periods. Different background levels and mercury concentrations were found in each lake, with significantly higher concentrations in Lake La Señoraza during the last 150 years. Mining-related activities during the nineteenth century could have a negligible influence on mercury concentrations. Later on, the use of coal railroads and subsequent employment of mercury in the cellulose industry were associated with three- and fourfold increases in mercury concentration over the nineteenth century background levels, which decrease once these activities ceased. However, in the case of Lake Pillo, an important increase in mercury concentration can be observed between 1990 and the early twenty-first century, which could be related to a higher watershed/lake area ratio, extensive agriculture, and volcanic emission, being the latter that could have contributed with mercury to both systems. Nevertheless, sedimentological characteristics in Lake Pillo can be favorable to retain mercury in this aquatic system up to the present day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denisse Álvarez
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile.
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile.
| | - Fernando Torrejón
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - María José Climent
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - Jordi Garcia-Orellana
- Departament de Física, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Araneda
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
| | - Roberto Urrutia
- Aquatic Systems Research Unit, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, EULA-Chile, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 160-C, Barrio Universitario s/n, Concepción, Chile
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Galvão RCF, Holanda IBB, De Carvalho DP, Almeida R, Souza CMM, Lacerda LD, Bastos WR. Freshwater shrimps (Macrobrachium depressimanum and Macrobrachium jelskii) as biomonitors of Hg availability in the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon. Environ Monit Assess 2018; 190:77. [PMID: 29322345 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6460-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/01/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Total mercury (THg) concentrations measured in two freshwater shrimp species (Macrobrachium depressimanum and Macrobrachium jelskii) showed a relationship with the location of artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) from the Madeira River Basin, Western Amazon. Between August 2009 and May 2010, 212 shrimp samples were collected in the confluence of the Madeira River with three of its tributaries (Western Amazon). THg concentration was quantified in the exoskeleton, hepatopancreas and muscle tissue of the shrimps by cold vapor atomic absorption spectrophotometry. There were no significant differences between the two shrimp species when samples came from the Madeira River, but Hg concentrations were significantly lower in a tributary outside the influence of the gold mining area. Average THg concentrations were higher in the hepatopancreas (up to 160.0 ng g-1) and lower in the exoskeleton and muscle tissue (10.0-35.0 ng g-1 and < 0.9-42.0 ng g-1, respectively). Freshwater shrimps from the Madeira River respond to local environmental levels of Hg and can be considered as biomonitors for environmental Hg at this spatial scale. These organisms are important for moving Hg up food webs including those that harbor economic significant fish species and thus enhancing human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C F Galvão
- Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia de Rondônia-IFRO, Rodovia BR-435 Km 63 Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 51, Colorado do Oeste, RO, 76993-000, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil
| | - I B B Holanda
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil
| | - D P De Carvalho
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Laboratório Radioisótopos Eduardo Penna Franca, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - R Almeida
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil
- Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Ambientais, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-425 Km 2.5 - Jardim das Esmeraldas, Guajará-Mirim, RO, 76850-000, Brazil
| | - C M M Souza
- Laboratório de Ciências Ambientais, Centro de Biociências e Biotecnologia, Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro, Av. Alberto Lamego, 2000, Parque California, Campos dos Goytacazes, RJ, 28013-602, Brazil
| | - L D Lacerda
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Costeira, Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Av. Abolição 3207, Meireles, Fortaleza, CE, 60165-081, Brazil
| | - W R Bastos
- Laboratório de Biogeoquímica Ambiental Wolfgang Christian Pfeiffer, Universidade Federal de Rondônia, Rodovia BR-364 Km 9.5, Porto Velho, RO, 76815-800, Brazil.
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Moreno-Brush M, Portillo A, Brändel SD, Storch I, Tschapka M, Biester H. Mercury concentrations in bats (Chiroptera) from a gold mining area in the Peruvian Amazon. Ecotoxicology 2018; 27:45-54. [PMID: 29101638 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-017-1869-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In the southeastern Peruvian Amazon, artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is estimated to have released up to 300 tonnes of mercury (Hg) to the environment between 1995 and 2007 alone, and is claimed to be responsible for Hg concentrations above international thresholds for aquatic wildlife species. Here, we examined whether Hg concentrations in bat populations are potentially related to regional ASGM-Hg releases. We determined Hg concentrations in the fur of bats collected at three different distances from the major ASGM areas in Peru. Our findings from 204 individuals of 32 species indicate that Hg concentrations in bat fur mainly resulted from differences in feeding habits, because Hg concentrations were significantly higher in omnivorous bats than in frugivorous bats. At least in two species, populations living in ASGM-affected sites harbored higher Hg concentrations than did populations in unaffected sites. Because Hg concentrations reflect Hg dietary exposure, Hg emissions from amalgam roasting sites appear to deposit locally and enter the terrestrial food web. Although our study demonstrates that ASGM activities (and Hg point sources) increase Hg exposure in wildlife, the overall Hg concentrations reported here are relatively low. The measured Hg concentrations were below the toxicity threshold at which adverse neurological effects have been reported in rodents and mink (>10 µg g-1), and were in the range of Hg concentrations in the fur of bats from nonpoint source affected sites in other latitudes. This study emphasizes the importance of considering feeding habits when evaluating Hg concentrations in bats and other vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Moreno-Brush
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
- Institut für Geoökologie, Abt. Umweltgeochemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - Alejandro Portillo
- Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco, Plaza de armas S/N (Paraninfo Universitario), Cusco, Peru.
| | - Stefan Dominik Brändel
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement Ave., Bldg. 401 Tupper, Balboa Ancon, Panama, Panama
| | - Ilse Storch
- Chair of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Tschapka
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Luis Clement Ave., Bldg. 401 Tupper, Balboa Ancon, Panama, Panama
| | - Harald Biester
- Institut für Geoökologie, Abt. Umweltgeochemie, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Langer Kamp 19c, 38106, Braunschweig, Germany
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Reichelt-Brushett AJ, Thomas B, Howe PL, Male Y, Clark MW. Characterisation of artisanal mine waste on Buru Island, Indonesia and toxicity to the brittle star Amphipholis squamata. Chemosphere 2017; 189:171-179. [PMID: 28934657 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.09.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) using mercury (Hg) amalgamation commenced on Buru Island, Indonesia, in 2012, but was halted in 2015 due to concerns of widespread Hg contamination. Much of the Hg used in the mining process is lost to trommel waste which is disposed of in settlement ponds that drain into adjacent waterways and into Kayeli Bay. Several thousand unmanaged trommel sites and associated tailing ponds exist on Buru Island. This study shows that waste from the Marloso trommel at the Gogrea site contained 203 mg/kg total Hg (THg), with a negligible proportion present as bioavailable methyl Hg (MeHg) and a low total organic carbon content. There are currently very few tools available for ecotoxicological risk assessment of mine tailings for tropical marine ecosystems, and we support the development of Tailings Toxicity Tests (TTTs) and describe laboratory toxicity test methods using the cosmopolitan benthic echinoderm Amphipholis squamata. Undiluted trommel waste caused 100% mortality of A. squamata within 48 h, and a 96-h LC50 of 6.7% w/w trommel waste (4 mg/kg THg) was estimated. Sub-lethal effects on the water vascular system of the brittle star were assessed by quantification of the Ability to Right Itself (ARI), and a 48-h EC50 of 7.3% w/w trommel waste (14.4 mg/kg THg) was estimated. The results show that trommel waste produced on Buru Island is highly contaminated with THg and is acutely toxic, raising serious concern for receiving ecosystems where Hg methylation to more toxic and bioavailable forms is likely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda J Reichelt-Brushett
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia.
| | - Bernard Thomas
- School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| | - Pelli L Howe
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| | - Yusthinus Male
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Science, Pattimura University, Ambon, Indonesia
| | - Malcolm W Clark
- Marine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia; School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia
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47
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Salazar-Camacho C, Salas-Moreno M, Marrugo-Madrid S, Marrugo-Negrete J, Díez S. Dietary human exposure to mercury in two artisanal small-scale gold mining communities of northwestern Colombia. Environ Int 2017; 107:47-54. [PMID: 28658634 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) is the largest anthropogenic source of mercury pollution worldwide, posing a grave threat to human health. The present study identifies current levels of mercury in the human population from mining areas of the Chocó Department, Colombia, through total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) measurements in human hair. Mercury exposure of the local population was assessed in two towns affected by ASGM and was related to different variables of interest. Concentrations of THg in human hair ranged from 0.06 to 17.54ppm and the mean value for the subjects under study was 2.48ppm. Men had significantly higher levels than women in both towns (3.29ppm vs. 0.77ppm). Fish consumption was related to a marked increase of THg in hair, with mean values close to five times higher in frequent fish consumers (5-7 times/week) than in non-fish consumers (4.80ppm vs. 0.90ppm). A multiple linear regression model was fitted successfully (R=0.671) and reveals that gender, fish consumption and location of residence were significant indicators of Hg levels in hair, while no significant relationship was found for age. Approximately 60% of subjects tested had THg levels that exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose of 1.0ppm, while 25% surpassed that of the World Health Organization (2.2ppm).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Salazar-Camacho
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, A.A. 292 Quibdó, Colombia
| | - Manuel Salas-Moreno
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Biology, Universidad Tecnológica del Chocó, A.A. 292 Quibdó, Colombia
| | - Siday Marrugo-Madrid
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia
| | - José Marrugo-Negrete
- University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia.
| | - Sergi Díez
- Environmental Chemistry Department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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48
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Douine M, Mosnier E, Le Hingrat Q, Charpentier C, Corlin F, Hureau L, Adenis A, Lazrek Y, Niemetsky F, Aucouturier AL, Demar M, Musset L, Nacher M. Illegal gold miners in French Guiana: a neglected population with poor health. BMC Public Health 2017; 18:23. [PMID: 28716015 PMCID: PMC5513330 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4557-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In French Guiana, a French overseas territory in South America, 6 to 10 thousands undocumented persons work illegally in gold mining sites in the Amazonian forest. Precarious life conditions lead to poor health but few data exist on the health status of illegal gold miners in French Guiana. The objective of this article was to describe the sociodemographic and health status of this vulnerable population. Method A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 on gold mine supply sites at the border between French Guiana and Suriname. Health status was assessed through medical examination, past medical history, haemoglobin concentration, and HIV and malaria testing. A questionnaire was used to collect data about the migration itinerary and life conditions on mining sites. Results Among the 421 adults included in the study, 93.8% (395/421) were Brazilian, mainly from Maranhão (55.7%, 220/395), the poorest Brazilian state. The sex ratio was 2.4. Overall, 48% of persons never went to school or beyond the primary level. The median time spent in gold mining was quite long (10 years), with a high turn-over. One third of the surveyed population (37.1%, 156/421) had high blood pressure, and only two had a medical follow-up. Most persons had experienced malaria (89.3%, 376/421). They declared frequent arboviroses and digestive disorders. Active leishmaniasis was observed in 8.3% of gold miners. Among women, 28.5% were anemic. Concerning HIV, 36.6% (154/421) of persons, mainly men, never got tested before and 6 were tested positive, which represented an HIV prevalence of 1.43% (95%CI =0.29–2.5). Conclusion These findings support the hypothesis that mining in remote areas is linked to several specific illnesses. Theoretically, gold miners would be presumed to start their economical migration to French Guiana as a healthy group. However, their strenuous working and living conditions there lead to poor health caused by infectious and non infectious diseases. This description of their health status is precious for health policy planners in French Guiana given the importance of controlling communicable disease, and the severity and range of specific illnesses acquired by this neglected population. Trial registration Clinical trial registration PRS N° NCT02903706. Retrospectively registered 09/13/2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maylis Douine
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France. .,Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.
| | - Emilie Mosnier
- Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.,Centres Délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Quentin Le Hingrat
- INSERM UMR1137, IAME Université Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, AP-HP, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Charpentier
- INSERM UMR1137, IAME Université Paris Diderot Sorbonne Paris Cité, AP-HP, Laboratoire de Virologie, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France
| | - Florine Corlin
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Louise Hureau
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Antoine Adenis
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.,Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Yassamine Lazrek
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance of Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance, Centre National de Référence du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Florence Niemetsky
- Centres Délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Anne-Laure Aucouturier
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.,Centres Délocalisés de Prévention et de Soins, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Magalie Demar
- Academic Laboratory of Parasitology - Mycology, Cayenne Hospital, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Lise Musset
- Laboratoire de parasitologie, WHO Collaborating Center for Surveillance of Anti-Malarial Drug Resistance, Centre National de Référence du paludisme, Institut Pasteur de la Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
| | - Mathieu Nacher
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique Antilles-Guyane (Inserm 1424), Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyant, BP 6006, 97306 cedex, Cayenne, French Guiana, France.,Epidemiology of Tropical Parasitoses, EA 3593, Université de Guyane, Cayenne, French Guiana, France
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49
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Donato DB, Madden-Hallett DM, Smith GB, Gursansky W. Heap leach cyanide irrigation and risk to wildlife: Ramifications for the international cyanide management code. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2017; 140:271-278. [PMID: 28279884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2017.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2016] [Revised: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Exposed cyanide-bearing solutions associated with gold and silver recovery processes in the mining industry pose a risk to wildlife that interact with these solutions. This has been documented with cyanide-bearing tailings storage facilities, however risks associated with heap leach facilities are poorly documented, monitored and audited. Gold and silver leaching heap leach facilities use cyanide, pH-stabilised, at concentrations deemed toxic to wildlife. Their design and management are known to result in exposed cyanide-bearing solutions that are accessible to and present a risk to wildlife. Monitoring of the presence of exposed solutions, wildlife interaction, interpretation of risks and associated wildlife deaths are poorly documented. This paper provides a list of critical monitoring criteria and attempts to predict wildlife guilds most at risk. Understanding the significance of risks to wildlife from exposed cyanide solutions is complex, involving seasonality, relative position of ponding, temporal nature of ponding, solution palatability, environmental conditions, in situ wildlife species inventory and provision of alternative drinking sources for wildlife. Although a number of heap leach operations are certified as complaint with the International Cyanide Management Code (Cyanide Code), these criteria are not considered by auditors nor has systematic monitoring regime data been published. Without systematic monitoring and further knowledge, wildlife deaths on heap leach facilities are likely to remain largely unrecorded. This has ramifications for those operations certified as compliance with the Cyanide Code.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Donato
- Donato Environmental Services, PO Box 175, Athelstone 5076, South Australia, Australia.
| | - D M Madden-Hallett
- Donato Environmental Services, PO Box 175, Athelstone 5076, South Australia, Australia
| | - G B Smith
- Donato Environmental Services, PO Box 175, Athelstone 5076, South Australia, Australia
| | - W Gursansky
- Donato Environmental Services, PO Box 175, Athelstone 5076, South Australia, Australia
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50
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Shen WZ, Cetinel S, Sharma K, Borujeny ER, Montemagno C. Peptide-functionalized iron oxide magnetic nanoparticle for gold mining. J Nanopart Res 2017; 19:74. [PMID: 28260966 PMCID: PMC5315719 DOI: 10.1007/s11051-017-3752-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Here, we present our work on preparing a novel nanomaterial composed of inorganic binding peptides and magnetic nanoparticles for inorganic mining. Two previously selected and well-characterized gold-binding peptides from cell surface display, AuBP1 and AuBP2, were exploited. This nanomaterial (AuBP-MNP) was designed to fulfill the following two significant functions: the surface conjugated gold-binding peptide will recognize and selectively bind to gold, while the magnetic nano-sized core will respond and migrate according to the applied external magnetic field. This will allow the smart nanomaterial to mine an individual material (gold) from a pool of mixture, without excessive solvent extraction, filtration, and concentration steps. The working efficiency of AuBP-MNP was determined by showing a dramatic reduction of gold nanoparticle colloid concentration, monitored by spectroscopy. The binding kinetics of AuBP-MNP onto the gold surface was determined using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy, which exhibits around 100 times higher binding kinetics than peptides alone. The binding capacity of AuBP-MNP was demonstrated by a bench-top mining test with gold microparticles. Graphical abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Zheng Shen
- Ingenuity Lab, 1-070C, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Departement of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Sibel Cetinel
- Ingenuity Lab, 1-070C, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Departement of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Kumakshi Sharma
- Ingenuity Lab, 1-070C, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Departement of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Elham Rafie Borujeny
- Ingenuity Lab, 1-070C, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Departement of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, AB Canada
| | - Carlo Montemagno
- Ingenuity Lab, 1-070C, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
- Departement of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta, T6G 2V4, Edmonton, AB Canada
- National Institute of Nanotechnology, 11421 Saskatchewan Drive NW, T6G 2M9, Edmonton, AB Canada
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