Abstract
Abandoned mining areas can display soil and water pollution and also a high incidence of endemic diseases. Here, based on preliminary results on mental retardation and high incidence rates of cancers, we investigate the contamination status and potential ecological risk at an abandoned pyrite mine located in Xianju village, Hubei province, central China. The study focused on the three potentially toxic metals As, Pb, and Zn and four other common elements, including Ca, Fe, S, and Se. Soil samples were collected from 12 sites and leachate seeping from five sites. Leachates were strongly acidic compared to the soil, with pH values <3.22. Soil As and Se concentrations exceeded the Chinese Grade II standards for soil environmental quality (GB 15618-2009) (30 and 3 mg·kg−1, respectively), ranging from 33.6 ± 0.7 to 78.2 ± 1.0 mg As·kg−1 dry matter (DM) and 5.3 ± 0.8 to 17.1 ± 1.4 mg Se·kg−1 DM. Arsenic, Fe, Se, and S in leachates all exceeded the Chinese Grade III standard for surface water environmental quality (GB 3838-2002) (0.1, 0.3, 0.03, and 1.0 mg·L−1). The potential ecological risks from Pb and Zn in soils were low, but As in soils and leachates represented a moderate or strong risk to children according to the Nemerow index and hazard quotient. Soil replacement combined with further remediation measures is required to remediate the contaminated area.
Highlights
Mining and associated activities have negative environmental impacts during mining operations and for many years afterward
The Certified reference materials (CRM) results indicate that the values determined were generally within the given confidence intervals, indicating that the procedures used produced quantitative measurements
It is necessary to apply moderate rates of calcium carbonate, our results indicate that the concentrations of Ca in the abandoned mining area are quite high
Summary
Mining and associated activities have negative environmental impacts during mining operations and for many years afterward. There is more concern regarding the environmental effects of mine tailing sites because the tailings produced during ore processing are characterized by elevated levels of potentially toxic metals that can be released into the environment by erosion and leaching processes [1,2,3]. In most cases, mining areas show high concentrations of hazardous elements in surface waters, groundwaters, and soils and these may represent important geochemical risks to human health and the environment [4,5]. As contained in water, soils, or food products may quickly enter the human body, and chronic As exposure causes gastrointestinal disorders, various types of cancer, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease [6]. Lead can cause induced-anemia, kidney cancer, and acute encephalopathy, the symptoms of which include persistent vomiting, ataxia, seizures, pappiledema, impaired consciousness, and coma, and miscarriages and stillbirths in women [7].
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