Abstract
Between 1938 and 1975, the city of Chañaral, located in the north of Chile, received 200 megatons of unregulated mining waste, which created an artificial beach 10 kilometers long and covering an area larger than 4 km2. In 1983, this deposit was classified as a serious case of marine pollution in the Pacific Ocean, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In 1989, dumping ceased due to a judicial order. Until now, the effects of this pollution on the population living around these mine tailings has been unknown. To determine the prevalence of exposure to metals by dust from mine tailings in Chañaral, a city located in the northern mining area of Chile. The level of urinary metals in a representative sample of adults from Chanaral was determined. Urinary levels of total arsenic (44.6 μg/L), inorganic arsenic (17.0 μg/L) and nickel (2.8 μg/L) were higher than in other areas of Chile. Levels of copper (17.9 μg/L), mercury (1.6 μg/L) and lead (0.9 μg/L) exceeded international values. Of the total subjects, 67.5%, 30.4%, 29.4%, 16.9%, 13.2 and 9.3% presented with high levels of copper, nickel, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, mercury and lead, respectively. Thirty-one years after suspension of the discharge of mining waste, the local population in this area remains exposed to metals from the mine tailings. Surveillance and remedial actions addressing the Chañaral mine tailings are needed.
Highlights
Mining is an important economic activity in many countries
23% had a middle school level of education (8 years or less of education), and 7% had more than 12 years of education
We found that people living fewer than 1000 meters from the tailings had a two times higher risk of showing a urinary nickel level above the reference value (4.1 μg per liter of urine (μg/L))
Summary
Mining is an important economic activity in many countries. In Latin America, it is a growing industry on which, in part, national incomes depend, as is the case in Chile. To determine the prevalence of exposure to metals by dust from mine tailings in Chañaral, a city located in the northern mining area of Chile. Urinary levels of total arsenic (44.6 μg/L), inorganic arsenic (17.0 μg/L) and nickel (2.8 μg/L) were higher than in other areas of Chile. 67.5%, 30.4%, 29.4%, 16.9%, 13.2 and 9.3% presented with high levels of copper, nickel, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, mercury and lead, respectively. Thirty-one years after suspension of the discharge of mining waste, the local population in this area remains exposed to metals from the mine tailings. The protocols and informed consent documents were approved by the Ethics Committee for Human Research of the School of Medicine of the University of Chile. Heavy metals, urinary metals, Chile, mining waste, mine tailings, arsenic, nickel, copper, lead, mercury J Health Pollution 10: 19–27 (2016) Keywords. heavy metals, urinary metals, Chile, mining waste, mine tailings, arsenic, nickel, copper, lead, mercury J Health Pollution 10: 19–27 (2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
