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Li L, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Wu B, Gan X. Spatial diffusion of potentially toxic elements in soils around non-ferrous metal mines. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 257:119285. [PMID: 38823614 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119285] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
This study focuses on the diffusion patterns of principal ore-forming elements (Pb and Zn) and associated elements (Cd, Cu, Cr, and As) in lead-zinc ore. Sampling points in upwind and downwind directions of lead-zinc ore areas at various densities (1 N/km2 - 4 N/km2) were categorized. This study analyzed the statistical relationship between the content of PTEs in the soil around lead-zinc ore and the source strength and dominant wind direction, constructed one-dimensional and two-dimensional diffusion model, and simulated the EER scope caused by PTEs. The findings indicate that: (1) concerning source strength, the content of PTEs in soils of high-density ore aggregation areas is significantly higher than in low-density ore aggregation areas. However, the impact of source strength decreases with decreasing ore grade, with a difference in Pb content of 1.71 times among principal ore-forming elements and almost consistent Cd content among associated elements. (2) Regarding the transport pathways, for most PTEs, the inverse proportion coefficients downwind are higher than upwind, approximately 1.18-3.63 times, indicating greater migration distances of PTEs downwind due to atmospheric dispersion. (3) By establishing a two-dimensional risk diffusion model, the study simulates the maximum radius of risk diffusion (r = 5.7 km), the 50% probability radius (r = 3.1 km), and the minimum radius (r = 0.8 km) based on the maximum, median, and minimum values statistically obtained from the EER. This study provides a scientific basis for implementing preventive measures for PTEs accumulation in soil within different pollution ranges. Different risk prevention and control measures should be adopted for PTEs accumulation in soil within the three ranges after cutting off pollution sources. Subsequent research should further investigate the impact and contribution of atmospheric transmission and surface runoff on the diffusion of PTEs in areas with high risk near lead-zinc ore.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Li
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Lingyan Zhang
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China
| | - Bo Wu
- Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, PR China.
| | - Xinhong Gan
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Management and Pollution Control, Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing, 210042, PR China.
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2
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Sun J, Yan B, Chen H, Tu S, Zhang J, Chen T, Huang Q, Zhang Y, Xie L. Insight into the mechanisms of combined toxicity of cadmium and flotation agents in luminescent bacteria: Role of micro/nano particles. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 940:173588. [PMID: 38823693 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173588] [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: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Currently, risk assessment and pollution management in mines primarily focus on toxic metals, with the flotation agents being overlooked. However, the combined effects of metals and flotation agents in mines remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of Cd and two organic flotation agents (ethyl xanthate (EX) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDTC)), and the associated mechanisms. The results showed that Cd + EX and Cd + DDTC exhibited synergistic toxicity. The EC50 values for luminescent bacteria were 1.6 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L at toxicity unit ratios of 0.3 and 1, respectively. The synergistic effects were closely related with the formation of Cd(EX)2 and Cd(DDTC)2 micro/nano particles, with nano-particles exhibiting higher toxicity. We observed severe cell membrane damage and cell shrinkage of the luminescent bacteria, which were probably caused by secondary harm to cells through the released CS2 during their decomposition inside cells. In addition, these particles induced toxicity by altering cellular levels of biochemical markers and the transcriptional levels of transport proteins and lipoproteins, leading to cell membrane impairment and DNA damage. This study has demonstrated that particulates formed by Cd and flotation agents contribute to the majority of the toxicity of the binary mixture. This study helps to better understand the complex ecological risk of inorganic metals and organic flotation agents in realistic mining environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiacheng Sun
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bo Yan
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Hongxing Chen
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Shuchen Tu
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junhao Zhang
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Tao Chen
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qinzi Huang
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuting Zhang
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Lingtian Xie
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou 510006, China; SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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3
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Su C, Yang Y, Jia M, Yan Y. Integrated framework to assess soil potentially toxic element contamination through 3D pollution analysis in a typical mining city. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 359:142378. [PMID: 38763392 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142378] [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: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) pollution of contaminated sites has become a global environmental issue. However, given that previous studies mostly focused on pollution assessment in surface soils, the current status and environmental risks of potentially toxic elements in deeper soils remain unclear. The present study aims to cognize distribution characteristics and spatial autocorrelation, pollution levels, and risk assessment in a stereoscopic environment for soil PTEs through 3D visualization techniques. Pollution levels were assessed in an integrated manner by combining the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the integrated influence index of soil quality (IICQs), and potential ecological hazard index. Results showed that soil environment at the site was seriously threatened by PTEs, and Cu and Cd were ubiquitous and the predominant pollutants in the study area. The stratigraphic models and pollution plume simulation revealed that pollutants show a decreasing trend with the deepening of the soil layer. The ranking of contamination soil volume is as follows: Cu > Cd > Zn > As > Pb > Cr > Ni. According to the IICQs evaluation, this region was subject to multiple PTE contamination, with more than 60% of the area becoming seriously and highly polluted. In addition, the ecological hazard model revealed the existence of substantial ecological hazards in the soils of the site. The integrated potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated that 45.7%, 10.13%, and 4.15% of the stereoscopic areas were in considerable, high, and very high risks, respectively. The findings could be used as a theoretical reference for applying multiple methods to integrate evaluation through 3D visualization analysis in the assessment and remediation of PTE-contaminated soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanghong Su
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China.
| | - Yong Yang
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China.
| | - Mengyao Jia
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China
| | - Yibo Yan
- College of Resources and Environment, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Soil Environment and Pollution Remediation, China; Key Laboratory of Arable Land Conservation (Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River), Ministry of Agriculture, China
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4
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McKay ME, Baseler L, Beblow J, Cleveland M, Marlatt VL. Comparative subchronic toxicity of copper and a tertiary copper mixture to early life stage rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): impacts on growth, development, and histopathology. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2024; 33:1-21. [PMID: 38112924 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-023-02721-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
This research aimed to characterize and compare the subchronic impacts of Cu to a Cu, Cd, and Zn mixture in early life stages of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) by examining uptake, survival, growth, development, and histopathology parameters. To accomplish this, rainbow trout were exposed for 31 days from eyed embryos to the swim-up fry life stage to waterborne Cu (31, 47, 70, and 104 μg/L) individually or as mixture containing Cd (4.1, 6.2, 9.3, and 14 μg/L) and Zn (385, 578, 867, and 1300 μg/L). Exposures elicited pronounced effects on survival when Cu was administered as a mixture (LC25 = 32.9 μg/L Cu) versus individually (LC25 = 46.3 μg/L Cu). Mixtures of Cu, Cd, and Zn also elicited more pronounced sublethal toxicity relative to equivalent Cu treatments with respect to reduced yolk sac resorption and increased incidence and/or severity of gill, liver, and kidney lesions. Our findings of reduced body weight (EC10, Cu = 55.0 μg/L Cu; EC10, Cu+Cd+Zn = 58.9 μg/L Cu), yolk sac resorption (LOECCu = 70 μg/L Cu; LOECCu+Cd+Zn = 70 μg/L Cu), coelomic fat (LOECCu = 47 μg/L Cu; LOECCu+Cd+Zn = 70 μg/L Cu), and increased hepatocellular cytoplasmic vacuolation (LOECCu = 70 μg/L Cu; LOECCu+Cd+Zn = 47 μg/L Cu) collectively indicate a complicated metabolic interference by metals in exposed fish. These lethal and sublethal effects observed in the laboratory could translate to reduced survival and fitness of wild salmonid populations inhabiting waterbodies receiving wastewater or runoff containing multiple metals at elevated concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E McKay
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
| | | | - Jordan Beblow
- Gitanyow Fisheries Authority, Kitwanga, BC, V0J 2A0, Canada
| | - Mark Cleveland
- Gitanyow Fisheries Authority, Kitwanga, BC, V0J 2A0, Canada
| | - Vicki L Marlatt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
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5
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Moore JW, Pitman KJ, Whited D, Marsden NT, Sexton EK, Sergeant CJ, Connor M. Mining stakes claim on salmon futures as glaciers retreat. Science 2023; 382:887-889. [PMID: 37995230 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj4911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Future ecological value of emerging habitats must be considered as climate change transforms the planet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan W Moore
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Kara J Pitman
- Earth to Ocean Research Group, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Diane Whited
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, USA
| | | | - Erin K Sexton
- Flathead Lake Biological Station, University of Montana, Polson, MT, USA
| | | | - Mark Connor
- Taku River Tlingit Fisheries, Atlin, BC, Canada
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6
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Storb MB, Bussell AM, Caldwell Eldridge SL, Hirsch RM, Schmidt TS. Growth of Coal Mining Operations in the Elk River Valley (Canada) Linked to Increasing Solute Transport of Se, NO 3-, and SO 42- into the Transboundary Koocanusa Reservoir (USA-Canada). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:17465-17480. [PMID: 37922122 PMCID: PMC10653222 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/05/2023]
Abstract
Koocanusa Reservoir (KOC) is a waterbody that spans the United States (U.S.) and Canadian border. Increasing concentrations of total selenium (Se), nitrate + nitrite (NO3-, nitrite is insignificant or not present), and sulfate (SO42-) in KOC and downstream in the Kootenai River (Kootenay River in Canada) are tied to expanding coal mining operations in the Elk River Watershed, Canada. Using a paired watershed approach, trends in flow-normalized concentrations and loads were evaluated for Se, NO3-, and SO42- for the two largest tributaries, the Kootenay and Elk Rivers, Canada. Increases in concentration (SO42- 120%, Se 581%, NO3- 784%) and load (SO42- 129%, Se 443%, NO3- 697%) in the Elk River (1979-2022 for NO3-, 1984-2022 for Se and SO42-) are among the largest documented increases in the primary literature, while only a small magnitude increase in SO42- (7.7% concentration) and decreases in Se (-10%) and NO3- (-8.5%) were observed in the Kootenay River. Between 2009 and 2019, the Elk River contributed, on average, 29% of the combined flow, 95% of the Se, 76% of the NO3-, and 38% of the SO42- entering the reservoir from these two major tributaries. The largest increase in solute concentrations occurred during baseflows, indicating a change in solute transport and delivery dynamics in the Elk River Watershed, which may be attributable to altered landscapes from coal mining operations including altered groundwater flow paths and increased chemical weathering in waste rock dumps. More recently there is evidence of surface water treatment operations providing some reduction in concentrations during low flow times of year; however, these appear to have a limited effect on annual loads entering KOC. These findings imply that current mine water treatment, which is focused on surface waters, may not sufficiently reduce the influence of mine-waste-derived solutes in the Elk River to allow constituent concentrations in KOC to meet U.S. water-quality standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meryl B. Storb
- U.S.
Geological Survey WY-MT Water Science Center, 3162 Bozeman Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601, United States
- Department
of Land Resources and Environmental Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, United States
| | - Ashley M. Bussell
- U.S.
Geological Survey WY-MT Water Science Center, 3162 Bozeman Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601, United States
| | - Sara L. Caldwell Eldridge
- U.S.
Geological Survey WY-MT Water Science Center, 3162 Bozeman Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601, United States
| | - Robert M. Hirsch
- U.S.
Geological Survey Water Mission Area, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Virginia 20192, United States
| | - Travis S. Schmidt
- U.S.
Geological Survey WY-MT Water Science Center, 3162 Bozeman Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601, United States
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7
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Rougemont Q, Leroy T, Rondeau EB, Koop B, Bernatchez L. Allele surfing causes maladaptation in a Pacific salmon of conservation concern. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010918. [PMID: 37683018 PMCID: PMC10545117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
How various factors, including demography, recombination or genome duplication, may impact the efficacy of natural selection and the burden of deleterious mutations, is a central question in evolutionary biology and genetics. In this study, we show that key evolutionary processes, including variations in i) effective population size (Ne) ii) recombination rates and iii) chromosome inheritance, have influenced the genetic load and efficacy of selection in Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), a widely distributed salmonid species on the west coast of North America. Using whole genome resequencing data from 14 populations at different migratory distances from their southern glacial refugium, we found evidence supporting gene surfing, wherein reduced Ne at the postglacial recolonization front, leads to a decrease in the efficacy of selection and a surf of deleterious alleles in the northernmost populations. Furthermore, our results indicate that recombination rates play a prime role in shaping the load along the genome. Additionally, we identified variation in polyploidy as a contributing factor to within-genome variation of the load. Overall, our results align remarkably well with expectations under the nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution. We discuss the fundamental and applied implications of these findings for evolutionary and conservation genomics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quentin Rougemont
- Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Thibault Leroy
- GenPhySE, INRAE, INP, ENVT, Université de Toulouse, Auzeville- Tolosane, France
| | - Eric B. Rondeau
- Department of Fisheries and Ocean, Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, Canada
| | - Ben Koop
- Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Louis Bernatchez
- Département de Biologie, Institut de Biologie Intégrative et des Systèmes (IBIS), Université Laval, Québec, Canada
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8
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Bao Z, Ptacek CJ, Blowes DW. Extracting resources from abandoned mines. Science 2023; 381:731-732. [PMID: 37590358 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn5962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
Recovering minerals and metals from aband on ed mines could aid decarbonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwen Bao
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Carol J Ptacek
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - David W Blowes
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Owens PN, Petticrew EL, Albers SJ, French TD, Granger B, Laval B, Lindgren J, Sussbauer R, Vagle S. Annual pulses of copper-enriched sediment in a North American river downstream of a large lake following the catastrophic failure of a mine tailings storage facility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:158927. [PMID: 36152844 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158927] [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: 05/28/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Failures of mine tailings storage facilities (TSF) can have profound and long-lasting effects on the downstream receiving environment. Virtually all spills to date have been into river systems without large lakes that may buffer downstream impacts. In August 2014, the failure of the Mount Polley copper (Cu)-gold mine TSF in British Columbia, Canada, released ~25 × 106 m3 of water and solids; globally, this is the second largest TSF spill in history. Over 18 × 106 m3 was delivered to Quesnel Lake, which is ~9 km from the TSF and is the third deepest lake in North America, and a crucial habitat for Pacific salmon and trout populations. We determined the sediment-associated Cu concentrations and fluxes in Quesnel River, downstream of the lake, from August 2014 to February 2021 based on the analysis of >400 samples of sediment, mainly collected using a continuous-flow centrifuge. During each winter since the spill, Cu concentrations in the fluvial sediment in the upper reaches of the river (~35 km from the TSF) were elevated relative to regional background concentrations and samples collected before the spill. Maximum Cu concentrations were ~410 mg kg-1 which exceeds Canadian sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic organisms (197 mg kg-1). Monitoring of Quesnel Lake since the spill shows that these annual pulses in the winter are due to resuspension of unconsolidated tailings and sediments at the bottom of Quesnel Lake, during autumnal lake turnover, which become mixed throughout the water column and subsequently flow into Quesnel River. Results show that while large lakes may buffer downstream aquatic systems from contaminated sediment, they may prolong the environmental impact. These findings are crucial in understanding how lake processes may modify the effects of TSF spills on downstream aquatic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- P N Owens
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada; Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada.
| | - E L Petticrew
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada; Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada
| | - S J Albers
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada
| | - T D French
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada; Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada
| | - B Granger
- Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada; Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - B Laval
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - J Lindgren
- Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada
| | - R Sussbauer
- Department of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9, Canada; Quesnel River Research Centre, University of Northern British Columbia, Likely, British Columbia V0L 1N0, Canada
| | - S Vagle
- Institute of Ocean Sciences, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada
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Bernasconi R, Lund MA, Blanchette ML. Non-charismatic waterbodies and ecosystem disservices: Mine pit lakes are underrepresented in the literature. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1063594. [PMID: 36523823 PMCID: PMC9745135 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1063594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pit lakes are one of the greatest legacies of open-cut mining. Despite the potential hazards of these lakes, they represent newly formed ecosystems with great scientific and ecological potential. Although thousands of pit lakes occur on every inhabited continent, with more being created, the microbial ecology of pit lakes is relatively under-researched. We evaluated the current state of microbial research in pit lakes by performing a Web of Science search and creating a literature database. Study lakes were categorized according to location and water quality (pH and conductivity) which is a key community and environmental concern. Research technology employed in the study was also categorized. We compared research effort in lakes, rivers, and streams which are the more "charismatic" inland aquatic ecosystems. Pit lake publications on microbes from 1987 to 2022 (n = 128) were underrepresented in the literature relative to rivers and streams (n = 321) and natural lakes (n = 948). Of the 128 pit lake publications, 28 were within the field of geochemistry using indirect measures of microbial activity. Most pit lake microbial research was conducted in a few acidic lakes in Germany due to social pressure for remediation and government initiative. Relatively few studies have capitalized on emerging technology. Pit lake microbial research likely lags other more charismatic ecosystems given that they are viewed as performing "ecosystem disservices," but this is socially complex and requires further research. Improving understanding of microbial dynamics in pit lakes will allow scientists to deliver safer pit lakes to communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachele Bernasconi
- Mine Water and Environment Research Centre (MiWER), School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
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11
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Negahdary M, Santos BG, Angnes L. Mercury threatens human health in Brazil. Science 2022; 377:1392. [PMID: 36137042 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade7525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Negahdary
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Berlane Gomes Santos
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Lúcio Angnes
- Department of Fundamental Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
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