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Olivares DMM, Santana CS, Neris JB, Luzardo FHM, Fausto AMF, Mol AW, Velasco FG. Assessment of potential human health, radiological and ecological risks around mining areas in northeastern Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:342. [PMID: 39073664 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-024-02121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Mining is responsible for the release of metallic pollutants and radioactive materials into the environment, which have the potential to disrupt ecosystems and pose significant risks to human health. Significant mining activity is concentrated in the municipality of Caetité (northeastern Brazil), where Latin America's only active uranium mine and significant iron ore deposits are located. Although previous studies have shown that the regional soil and water resources are highly contaminated by various toxic elements and that exposure to these elements is known to have adverse effects on human health, the health risks in this mining region have never been assessed. The aim of this unprecedented comprehensive investigation was to assess the health, radiological and ecological risks in this mining region, which is home to nearly 100,000 people. To achieve our goal, soil and water samples were collected in the vicinity of the mines and in the main settlements in the region. Fifteen metallic toxic elements were determined using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The HERisk code, which follows the main methodological guidelines for risk assessment, was used to quantify human health, radiological and ecological indices. The average values of the total risk and cancer risk indices indicated that region falls into the moderate risk category (1.0 ≤ HItot < 4.0). However, 63% of the sites had high risk values, with Fe, Co and As being the metals contributing most to total and cancer risk, respectively. Near the mining areas, the potential ecological risk can be considered extreme (PERI ≥ 600). The values of the calculated radiological indices correspond to typical values in natural uranium areas. However, in the communities near the mine, the dose values are slightly above the permissible limit (1 mSv y-1), so they must be continuously monitored, and risk mitigation measures must be taken.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jordan B Neris
- Department of Chemistry, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francisco H M Luzardo
- Higher Institute of Technologies and Applied Sciences (InSTEC), University of Havana, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Agnes M F Fausto
- Center for Research in Radiation Sciences and Technologies (CPqCTR), State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Anderson W Mol
- Center for Research in Radiation Sciences and Technologies (CPqCTR), State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
| | - Fermin G Velasco
- Center for Research in Radiation Sciences and Technologies (CPqCTR), State University of Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil
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Chi H, Liu X, Yang X, Zhang R, Xia T, Sun Y, Hu K, Hao F, Liu Y, Yang S, Deng Q, Wen X. Risk assessment and source identification of soil heavy metals: a case study of farmland soil along a river in the southeast of a mining area in Southwest China. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2024; 46:39. [PMID: 38227107 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01803-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024]
Abstract
To investigate the heavy metals (HMs) contamination of surface farmland soil along the river in the southeast of a mining area in southwest China and identify the contamination sources, 54 topsoil samples were collected and the concentrations of seven elements (Zn, Ni, Pb, Cu, Hg, Cr, and Co) were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS). The geo-accumulation index ([Formula: see text]) and comprehensive potential ecological risk index ([Formula: see text]) were used for analysis to determine the pollution degree of HMs and the risk level of the study area. Meanwhile, the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was combined with a variety of statistical methods to determine the sources of HMs. To explore the influence of the river flowing through the mining area on the concentrations of HMs in the farmland soil, 15 water samples were collected and the concentrations of the above seven elements were determined. The results showed that the concentrations of Pb, Cu, and Zn in soil all exceeded the risk screening value, and Pb in soil of some sampling sites exceeded control value of "Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Risk Control Standard".[Formula: see text] showed that Pb was heavily contaminated, while Cu and Zn were moderately contaminated. RI showed that the study area was at moderate risk. PMF and various statistical methods showed that the main source of HMs was the industrial source. In the short term, the river flowing through the mine has no significant influence on the concentration of HMs in the soil. The results provide a reference for the local government to control contamination and identify the sources of HMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajian Chi
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Xin Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaofang Yang
- College of Chemistry, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610064, Sichuan, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Ting Xia
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Yiping Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Kan Hu
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Fangfang Hao
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Yong Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Shengchun Yang
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Qingwen Deng
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaodong Wen
- College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali, 671000, Yunnan, China.
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Coelho DG, da Silva VM, Gomes Filho AAP, Oliveira LA, de Araújo HH, Farnese FDS, Araújo WL, de Oliveira JA. Bioaccumulation and physiological traits qualify Pistia stratiotes as a suitable species for phytoremediation and bioindication of iron-contaminated water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 446:130701. [PMID: 36603425 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Serious concerns have recently been raised regarding the association of Fe excess with neurodegenerative diseases in mammals and nutritional and oxidative disorders in plants. Therefore, the current study aimed to understand the physiological changes induced by Fe excess in Pistia stratiotes, a species often employed in phytoremediation studies. P. stratiotes were subjected to five concentrations of Fe: 0.038 (control), 1.0, 3.0, 5.0 and 7.0 mM. Visual symptoms of Fe-toxicity such as bronzing of leaf edges in 5.0 and 7.0 mM-grown plants were observed after 5 days. Nevertheless, no major changes were observed in photosynthesis-related parameters at this time-point. In contrast, plants growing for 10 days in high Fe concentrations showed decreased chlorophyll concentrations and lower net CO2 assimilation rate. Notwithstanding, P. stratiotes accumulated high amounts of Fe, especially in roots (maximum of 10,000 µg g-1 DW) and displayed a robust induction of the enzymatic antioxidant system. In conclusion, we demonstrated that P. stratiotes can be applied to clean up Fe-contaminated water, as the species displays high Fe bioaccumulation, mostly in root apoplasts, and can maintain physiological processes under Fe excess. Our results further revealed that by monitoring visual symptoms, P. stratiotes could be applied for bioindication purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gomes Coelho
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Melo da Silva
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | | | | | - Hugo Humberto de Araújo
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | | | - Wagner L Araújo
- Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil
| | - Juraci Alves de Oliveira
- Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, 36570-000, Brazil.
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