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Bertoldo LA, Ribeiro A, Reis CES, Frachini E, Kroetz BL, Abrão T, Santos MJ. Environmental risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in Doce River watershed after mining sludge dam breakdown in Mariana, MG, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:539. [PMID: 37017824 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11080-5] [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: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Faced with a potential risk of a colossal amount of sludge released into the Doce River basin in the most shocking Brazilian mining disaster, we proposed to assess the environmental risk from a new perspective: Understanding the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTE) with the geochemical fractions. Soil and sediment samples were taken in nine sites throughout the basin and characterized. The environmental risk was assessed from the PTE sequential extraction in three fractions: soluble, reducible, and oxidizable, in addition to the pseudo-total concentration. The potential mobile fraction (PMF) showed a considerable PTE mobilization from the soil and sediment samples. Principal component statistical analysis indicated the sludge as the single source of PTE. The risk assessment depended on the fractional distribution and the PTE enrichment degree in the affected samples. The fractional distribution contributed mainly to Mn, Sb, and Pb mobility, with PMF of 96%, 81%, and 100%, respectively. The mobilization of Cd, Co, Ag, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cu was predominantly related to the degree of enrichment. The risk assessment from the geochemical fractions pointed to the magnitude of the disaster and the dispersion of PTE with severe effects on the affected populations. Therefore, more strongly enforced regulations in the basin are needed, in addition to the urgent use of more secure containment dams. It is also essential to emphasize the transferability of the design of this study to other environmental units in mining disaster conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leticia A Bertoldo
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Angelita Ribeiro
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Cecília E S Reis
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Emilli Frachini
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Barbara L Kroetz
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Taufik Abrão
- Electrical Engineering Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Maria Josefa Santos
- Chemistry Department, Londrina State University, Celso Garcia Cid Highway, Londrina, 86057-970, Paraná, Brazil.
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Wang H, Wang J, Cao Y, Chen J, Deng Q, Chen Y, Qiu Y, Lin L, Shi B, Liu F, He B, Chen F. Combined Exposure to 33 Trace Elements and Associations With the Risk of Oral Cancer: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study. Front Nutr 2022; 9:913357. [PMID: 35873417 PMCID: PMC9301066 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.913357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Trace elements exist widely in the natural environment and mostly enter the human body through drinking water or various types of food, which has raised increasing health concerns. Exposure to a single or a few trace elements has been previously reported to be associated with oral cancer risk, but studies on other elements and combined effects are limited. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the independent and joint effects of 33 trace elements on oral cancer risk. Methods The concentrations of 33 trace elements from the serum samples of 463 cases and 1,343 controls were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Propensity score matching was used to minimize the impact of potential confounders. Conditional logistic regression was utilized to evaluate the association of each element individually with oral cancer risk. Quantile g-computation and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to assess the joint effect of the overall element mixture and interactions. Results In single-element models, essential elements (Cu, Se, Zn, Sr, and Cr) and non-essential elements (As, Li, Th, Ce, Ti, and Sc) showed significant association with oral cancer risk. In multiple-element models, a quartile increase in overall non-essential elements was observed for a significant inverse association with oral cancer risk (β = −3.36, 95% CI: −4.22 to −2.51). The BKMR analysis revealed a potential beneficial joint effect of essential metals on the risk of oral cancer. Among these, higher levels of serum Zn and V exhibited an adverse effect, while serum Sr, Se, and Cu displayed favorable effects when all other essential elements were fixed at 25th or 50th percentiles. Of note, Se performed complex interactions among essential metals. As for non-essential elements, there were greater effect estimates for serum Th, Li, and Y when all other elements were held at the 75th percentile. Conclusion This study provides supportive evidence that the overall mixture effect of essential and non-essential elements might be associated with oral cancer risk, especially for serum Zn, V, Cu, Sr, Se, Th, Li, and Y. Extensive prospective studies and other experiments are warranted to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiying Wang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Laboratory Center, School of Public Health, The Major Subject of Environment and Health of Fujian Key Universities, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yujie Cao
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinfa Chen
- Laboratory Center, School of Public Health, The Major Subject of Environment and Health of Fujian Key Universities, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qingrong Deng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yujia Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu Qiu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lisong Lin
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Bin Shi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fengqiong Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Baochang He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Baochang He,
| | - Fa Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Fa Chen,
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Ou X, Chen Z, Chen X, Li X, Wang J, Ren T, Chen H, Feng L, Wang Y, Chen Z, Liang M, Gao P. Redistribution and chemical speciation of rare earth elements in an ion-adsorption rare earth tailing, Southern China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 821:153369. [PMID: 35077788 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mining is an activity that will change the distribution and chemical speciation of rare earth elements (REEs), thus posing a serious threat to the natural environment. However, the distribution and chemical speciation of REEs in ion-adsorption rare earth tailings remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the contents and forms of REEs and associated geochemical behavior in rare earth tailings in southeast China. Total rare earth elements (TREEs) contents were lower while the ratios of light REEs (LREEs) to heavy REEs (HREEs) were higher in tailings than in an unmined area. In the unmined area, the distribution characteristics of TREEs and LREEs remained consistent, whereas HREEs differed with increasing depth. However, in the tailing area, the distribution characteristics of TREEs, LREEs and HREEs tended to be consistent, reflecting the outcomes of mining activities on vertical distribution characteristics of REEs. The REEs were dominated by residual and exchangeable forms in the unmined area, while residual and exchangeable REEs accounted for 80% and 20% of the TREEs, respectively, in the three tailings. Additionally, the exchangeable and carbonate-bound REEs increased but Fe/Mn oxide-bound and organic-bound REEs declined in the unmined area, whereas their distribution characteristics were irregular in the tailings. These results suggest that mining activity could curtail REEs contents and redistribute their chemical speciation, further altering geochemical behaviors in the tailings and posing serious risks to adjacent environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolin Ou
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhibiao Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Xiuling Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Tianjing Ren
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haibin Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liujun Feng
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yikai Wang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Meixia Liang
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Pengchang Gao
- Key Laboratory for Humid Subtropical Eco-Geographical Processes of the Ministry of Education, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China; School of Geographical Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
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El Zrelli R, Baliteau JY, Yacoubi L, Castet S, Grégoire M, Fabre S, Sarazin V, Daconceicao L, Courjault-Radé P, Rabaoui L. Rare earth elements characterization associated to the phosphate fertilizer plants of Gabes (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean Sea): Geochemical properties and behavior, related economic losses, and potential hazards. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148268. [PMID: 34139493 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This is the first study on the behavior and industrial fluxes of rare earth elements (REE) in the coastal fertilizer plants of Gabes (south-eastern Tunisia), the economic losses related to their wastes, and their environmental and human health hazards. The concentrations of 16 REE were assessed in phosphate rock (PR), phosphogypsum (PG) and phosphogypsum foam (PGF) samples, collected from Gabes plants. REE concentrations ranged from 0.23 (for Sc in PG) to 309.33 mg kg-1 (for Ce in PGF). Ce was the most abundant in the three matrices, with concentrations ranging between 80.40 (in PG) and 309.33 mg kg-1 (in PGF). PGF was the most enriched with REE (1075.32 mg kg-1). The annual flow of REE from the fertilizer factories to the marine environment may reach 1523.67 t. The economic losses related to the discharge of phosphogypsum REE in the Gulf of Gabes (GG) was estimated at ~58 million US$ y-1. The potential hazards of discharged REE on the local environment and human health were also evaluated and discussed. These findings show the need for the development of a new industry exploiting REE from phosphogypsum wastes (short term) and phosphate ores (long term) which should lead to reduce its high environmental and human health footprint and to potential economic gains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sylvie Castet
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, UMR 5563 CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Michel Grégoire
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, UMR 5563 CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Sébastien Fabre
- Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie, Université de Toulouse, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Vivien Sarazin
- SADEF, 30 Rue de la Station, 68700 Aspach-Le-Bas, France
| | | | - Pierre Courjault-Radé
- Géosciences Environnement Toulouse (GET), Université de Toulouse, UMR 5563 CNRS/UPS/IRD/CNES, 14 Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Lotfi Rabaoui
- Center for Environment & Marine Studies, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
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