Abstract
We investigated the characteristics of metal(loid) transport and dispersion in agricultural soils near an abandoned metal mine. Topsoil samples were collected from 162 sampling sites in the study area, including 1 in the mine tailing dumps, to analyze the total concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, and Zn. Subsequently, the metal(loid) transport and dispersion characteristics were investigated using geographic information system (GIS) technology. The results of this study clearly demonstrated the variation in the dispersal of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn from the mine tailing dumps to nearby agricultural soils and the element-specific spatial variability in their respective transport and dispersion characteristics. These findings suggested that compared with the migration behavior of Cd, Pb, and Zn, that of As has a farther-reaching impact on agricultural soils owing to its geochemical cycling in the soil and groundwater environment. This impact differed significantly in magnitude from that of the other investigated metals. Therefore, special consideration must be given to the migration behavior of As.
Highlights
Agricultural soil pollution caused by metal(loid)s from mining activities poses serious environmental concerns
The following approaches were adopted. e total concentrations of metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Pb, and Zn) in the agricultural soils were surveyed extensively on-site. en, we examined the spatial distribution of the metal(loid)s by identifying their horizontal variation according to distance from the mine tailing dumps and created a distribution map using a geographical information system (GIS). e results of this study provide important input for developing efficient monitoring schemes for meta(loid)s in agricultural soils and strategies for soil remediation in areas affected by mining activities
We used field surveys and geographic information system (GIS) mapping to identify the distinct transport and dispersion characteristics of different metal(loid)s by tracing the migration pathways of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn from the mine tailing dumps of an abandoned mine to nearby agricultural fields. e results of this study show a common migration pathway for As, Cd, Pb, and Zn: direct dispersion of metal(loid)-bearing particles in the tailings through the wind- and rainfall-driven erosion
Summary
Agricultural soil pollution caused by metal(loid)s from mining activities poses serious environmental concerns. Mine tailings, which are mine wastes derived from mining activities, contain several toxic metal(loid)s [1, 2]; mine tailing dumps left untreated near abandoned metal mines are the primary sources of soil and water pollution in the surrounding areas [3,4,5,6,7,8]. Recent studies on the transport and dispersion of metal(loid)s in contaminated soils near mining areas have suggested that the spatial distribution of such metal(loid)s is determined primarily by the erosion of mine tailings, by wind-driven erosion [1, 2, 6, 11, 12]. Studies on the transport of metal(loid)s in soils by the leaching of metal(loid)s from mine tailing dumps have focused on the depth-dependent distribution of metal(loid)s within the soil profile, i.e., the vertical migration of metal(loid)s [9, 13,14,15]
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