Abstract
Thallium (Tl) is a rare metal with toxic effects notably harmful to human health and the environment. In this article, the natural occurrence of Tl was evaluated in a deactivated manganese mine located in the Western region of Bahia, Brazil. The extraction procedure with aqua regia was used to dissolve the soil, sediment, and tailings samples. The Tl content was determined by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS). The Tl levels ranged from 0.64 to 473 mg kg‑1, triggering an alert since most of the samples (soil and sediment) analyzed presented Tl concentrations above 1.0 mg kg-1, recognized as the maximum limit recommended by environmental agencies in North America and Europe.
Highlights
Mining activities are known to have a high environmental impact
In order to identify patterns in the distribution of the samples and to verify which variables are responsible for the similarities or differences between the samples of soils and sediments collected in the study area, the results for Tl, Mn, Fe, and organic matter (OM) contents were submitted to principal component analysis (PCA)
Xiao et al.[9] determined the Tl concentration in a Tl naturally occurring area in several compartments; they concluded that possible Tl dispersion patterns resulted from activities as excavations, artisanal mining, agricultural activities, and use of rocks containing Tl minerals for road terracing practices, aggravating the problem of Tl dispersion and increasing the risk for biosphere
Summary
Mining activities are known to have a high environmental impact. The extensive areas occupied by mines, as well as the steps involved in the process of extracting ores, cargo handling operations and the tailings generated, represent risks for populations in different regions of the planet.
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