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Lam Esquenazi E, Keith Norambuena B, Montofré Bacigalupo Í, Gálvez Estay M. Evaluation of soil intervention values in mine tailings in northern Chile. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5879. [PMID: 30405972 PMCID: PMC6216957 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work is to show a methodological proposal for the analysis of soil intervention values in mine tailings in order to determine the intervention requirements in the commune of Andacollo in northern Chile. The purpose of this analysis is to guide the intervention policies of both private and public organizations. The evaluation method is based on the Dutch legislation. The usability of the proposed methods depends on the available geochemical data from soil samples; in particular, we tackle the case when information regarding clay percentage in the soil is not available. We use the concepts of a threshold factor and an adjusted threshold factor to calculate a weighted intervention ranking. In order to illustrate the utility of this methodological proposal, a case study is carried out with the prescribed approach. In particular, this work presents an analysis of the elements of environmental significance related to the mining activity (Hg, Cd, Pb, As, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr) in the commune of Andacollo, Coquimbo Region, Chile. The analyzed samples are used to determine where the intervention of tailing deposits is necessary and where a solution to these environmental liabilities is required as soon as possible. Out of the 81 samples evaluated, it was found that 18 require a potential intervention, and of these samples, seven of them are associated with abandoned tailings that, in some cases, are located close to the town center itself, one sample is associated with active tailings and the other 10 with inactive tailings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brian Keith Norambuena
- Department of Computing and Systems Engineering, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
| | | | - María Gálvez Estay
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta, Chile
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Wu W, Wu P, Yang F, Sun DL, Zhang DX, Zhou YK. Assessment of heavy metal pollution and human health risks in urban soils around an electronics manufacturing facility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 630:53-61. [PMID: 29475113 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.02.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Heavy metal pollution has pervaded many parts of the world, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations and health risks of heavy metals in urban soils around an electronics manufacturing site in the Hubei Province of China. Soils samples were collected from commercial, roadside, farmland, and residential areas around the electronics manufacturing facility. A total of 136 topsoil samples were collected, and these samples were analyzed for Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ni, and Pb. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution index (PI), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated to assess the soil pollution levels. The hazard index (HI) was used to assess the human health risks posed by the presence of heavy metals. The total concentrations of the seven congeners (∑metals) ranged from 3738.86 to 5173.25mgkg-1, and the concentrations were highest in the commercial area followed (in decreasing order) by the roadside, farmland, and residential areas. The HI for children and adults descended in the order of Cr>As>Pb>Cd>Cu>Ni>Zn. The carcinogenic risks of two metals, namely, Cr and As, for children and adults were higher than 10-4, and children faced greater health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China.
| | - Ping Wu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Fang Yang
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Dan-Ling Sun
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - De-Xing Zhang
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, 1 Huangjia Lake West Road, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Yi-Kai Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment & Health, Institute of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Jia Z, Li S, Wang L. Assessment of soil heavy metals for eco-environment and human health in a rapidly urbanization area of the upper Yangtze Basin. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3256. [PMID: 29459724 PMCID: PMC5818520 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21569-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Soil pollution with heavy metals (HMs) has been attracting more and more interests, however, assessment of eco-environmental and human risks particularly in a rapidly urbanization area (the upper Yangtze) remains limited. Multiple modern indices were firstly performed for complete risk assessment of eco-environment and human health based on a high-spatial-resolution sampling. Averages of HMs were far below grade II threshold level of the Chinese Environmental Quality standards for soils, whereas Cd, As and Hg considerably exceeded the local background values. EF suggested overall moderate enrichments of Cd and Se, resulting in soils uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with them. Potential ecological risk index showed significant differences among Counties that were characterized by moderate risk. However, several sites were moderately to heavily contaminated with As, Cd and Hg by Igeo, resulting in that these sites were categorized as “considerable risk”, or “high risk”. Moreover, children were more susceptible to the potential health risk irrespective of the carcinogenic or non – carcinogenic risk. There were no significant carcinogenic and non – carcinogenic risks for adults, children however showed significant non – carcinogenic effect. Our first assessment provided important information for policy making to reduce the potential effects of soil contamination on human and eco-environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongmin Jia
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.,Southeast Sichuan Geological Group, Chongqing Bureau of Geology and Minerals Exploration, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Siyue Li
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China.
| | - Li Wang
- Key Laboratory of Eco-environments of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
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Xu DM, Yan B, Chen T, Lei C, Lin HZ, Xiao XM. Contaminant characteristics and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in the paddy soils from lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas in Guangdong Province, South China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:24387-24399. [PMID: 28891003 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-0052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In November 2016, the total metal concentrations in nine representative locations in lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mining areas, located in Guangdong Province, South China, were determined experimentally by flame atomic absorption spectrometer. The results indicated that the paddy soils were heavily contaminated with Cd (20.25 mg kg-1), Pb (1093.03 mg kg-1), and Zn (867.0 mg kg-1), exceeding their corresponding soil quality standard values and background values. According to the results, the mean enrichment factor levels of the studied metals decreased in the following order: Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Ni > Mn > Cr. Among these metals, Cd, Pb, and Zn were predominantly influenced by widespread anthropogenic activities. The highest concentrations of the studied metal pollutants were distributed in the areas surrounding the mining activity district. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the major contributing sources of the studied metals were metal ore mining, smelting, and processing activities. However, the composition of soil background was another potential source. Moreover, the assessment results of environment risks showed that the potential ecological risks, in decreasing order, were Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Mn. Additionally, the non-carcinogenic risk represented the trend of HI Pb > HI Mn > HI Zn > HI Cu , and the carcinogenic risk ranked as CR Cr > CR Cd > CR Ni . Among the environmental risk substances, Cd and Pb were the main contributors that pose ecological harm and health hazards through their serious pollution. Consequently, greater attention should be paid to this situation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Mao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100082, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China.
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
| | - Han-Zhi Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100082, People's Republic of China
| | - Xian-Ming Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510640, People's Republic of China
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Comparison of Health Risk Assessments of Heavy Metals and As in Sewage Sludge from Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) for Adults and Children in the Urban District of Taiyuan, China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14101194. [PMID: 28991185 PMCID: PMC5664695 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14101194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To compare the human health risk of heavy metals and As in sewage sludge between adults and children, samples were collected from five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in the urban district of Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi. Heavy metals and As in sewage sludge can be ranked according to the mean concentration in the following order: Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > As > Hg > Cd. Compared with the concentration limit set by different countries, the heavy metals contents in sewage sludge were all within the standard limits, except for the content of As, which was higher than the threshold limit established by Canada. A health risk assessment recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) was used to compare the non-cancer risk and cancer risk between adults and children. Based on the mean and 95% upper confidence limit (UCL) of the average daily dose (ADD), heavy metals and As can be ranked in the order of Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > As > Hg > Cd for adults, and Cu > Cr > Zn > Pb > Hg > As > Cd for children. Moreover, results of ADDingest and ADDinhale indicated that ingestion was the main pathway for heavy metals and As exposure for both adults and children, and the sum of ADD implied that the exposure to all heavy metals and As for children was 8.65 and 9.93 times higher, respectively, than that for adults according to the mean and 95% UCL. For the non-carcinogenic risk, according to the hazard quotient (HQ), the risk of Cu, Hg and Cr was higher than the risk of Zn and Pb. The hazard index (HI) for adults was 0.144 and 0.208 for the mean and 95% UCL, which was less than the limit value of 1; for children, the HI was 1.26 and 2.25, which is higher than the limit value of 1. This result indicated that children had non-carcinogenic risk, but adults did not. Furthermore, ingestion was the main pathway for non-carcinogenic risk exposure by the HQingest and HQinhale. For the carcinogenic risk, Cd and As were classified as carcinogenic pollutants. The values of RISK for the mean and 95% UCL for adults and children all exceeded the limit value of 1 × 10−5, which implied that adults and children had a carcinogenic risk, and this risk was higher for children than for adults. The results of RISK for As and Cd implied that As was the main pollutant for carcinogenic risk. Moreover, the results of RISKingest and RISKinhale indicated that ingestion was the main pathway. Uncertainty analysis was performed, and the risk ranges of it were greater than certainty analysis, which implied that uncertainty analysis was more conservative than certainty analysis. A comparison of the non-carcinogenic risk and carcinogenic risk for adults and children indicated that children were more sensitive and vulnerable than adults when exposed to the same pollutant in the environment.
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