Anthropogenic impact of the use of Hg in mining activities in Cedral S.L.P. Mexico

Mortón-Bermea, Ofelia; Jiménez-Galicia, R. G.; Castro-Larragoitia, Javier; Hernández-Álvarez, Elizabeth; Pérez-Rodríguez, Rebeca Yasmín; García-Arreola, María Elena; Gavilán-García, Irma C.; Segovia, N.

doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4102-7

Cited by 10 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Soluble Hg represented < 0.03 % of the total Hg in the soil samples, which was consistent with data obtained from studies of soils near former amalgamation areas with mean soluble Hg concentrations of only 0.05 % of the total Hg concentration (Santos-Francés et al 2011). However, the soluble Hg fraction was lower than the one reported previously (0.37 -0.68 %) for two soil samples from Cedral (Morton-Bermea et al 2015).…”

Section: Concentration Of Soluble Hg In the Mining Wastes And Soilssupporting

confidence: 90%

“…Thus, the solubility of Hg under simulated rainwater contact conditions varied from 0.007 to 0.54 % of the total Hg found in the mining wastes. The latter in agreement with the soluble fraction of Hg (0.01 -0.22 %) in the samples from the El Caballo and Jesús María dumps reported by Morton-Bermea et al (2015). The data from other historical and modern amalgamation sites are consistent with the results from Cedral, which indicated that the aqueous solubility of Hg is low in amalgamation mining wastes (Lacerda and Salomons 1999).…”

Section: Concentration Of Soluble Hg In the Mining Wastes And Soilssupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Solubility and bioaccessibility of Hg in mining wastes and soils are mainly controlled by the chemical species (Bloom et al 2003, Zagury et al 2009). Thus, the soluble and bioaccessible Hg concentrations, together with the total Hg concentration, would provide useful complementary information about the chemical speciation of Hg in mining wastes and soils of Cedral, reported previously by selective extraction methods (Morton-Bermea et al 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…A previous study has shown that children from Cedral are exposed to Hg (Morton-Bermea et al 2015). Taking into account that seafood is not an important dietary component in Cedral, the bioaccessible Hg concentrations were determined in order to evaluate if the accidental ingestion of mining wastes and polluted soil particles could be a major exposure route.…”

Section: Bioaccessible Hg In the Mining Waste And Soil Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Pollution Assessment of Mining Wastes and Soils From Former Silver Amalgamation Area in North-Central Mexico

Vicencio

Carrizales-Yáñez

Razo-Soto

2017

Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie.

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Mining wastes and soils from Cedral, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, were studied to assess mercury (Hg) pollution in areas of historical silver (Ag) amalgamation and in areas where amalgamation mining wastes were recently reprocessed for Hg and Ag recovery. The total, soluble and bioaccessible Hg concentrations from eight mining waste and nine soil cores were determined at varying depths, which fluctuated from the surface up to 1.0 m depth. The total Hg concentrations in the mining wastes samples ranged from 8 to 548 mg/kg. The total Hg concentrations in the soil samples were lower (1 to 116 mg/kg) than those in the mining wastes. Eighty percent of the soil samples exceeded the maximum permissible limit for residential soils according to the Mexican regulations, demonstrating the impacts of the amalgamation process in Cedral. The soluble Hg concentrations were low, from 0.009 to 0.32 mg/kg in the mining wastes, and from 0.003 to 0.02 mg/kg in soils. The latter represents 0.007 % to 0.54 % and < 0.03 % of total Hg, from mining wastes and soils, respectively, indicating low aqueous Hg transport during rainfall events. The bioaccessible Hg concentrations in the mining waste samples (0.1 to 60 mg/kg) and soil samples (0.1 to 17 mg/kg), suggested that humans could be exposed to this toxic element through the accidental ingestion of mining wastes and soil particles. Although the total Hg concentrations in the mining wastes decreased after reprocessing, the soluble and bioaccessible Hg concentrations increased.Palabras clave: beneficio de patio, jales, reprocesamiento, solubilidad, bioaccesibilidad RESUMENSe estudiaron residuos mineros y suelos de Cedral, San Luis Potosí, México, para evaluar la contaminación por mercurio (Hg) en áreas de amalgamación histórica de plata (Ag) y de reprocesamiento reciente de residuos de amalgamación para la recuperación de Hg y Ag. Se obtuvieron ocho perfiles de hasta 1 m de profundidad de depósitos de 656residuos mineros y nueve de suelo, de los cuales se recolectaron muestras a diferentes profundidades para la determinación de concentraciones totales, solubles y bioaccesibles de Hg. Las concentraciones totales de Hg en residuos mineros variaron entre 8 y 548 mg/kg, mientras que en suelos las concentraciones se presentaron en un rango de entre 1 y 116 mg/kg. Se encontró que el 80 % de las muestras de suelo analizadas superaron el límite máximo permisible de Hg para suelo de uso residencial establecido en la normatividad mexicana, lo que demuestra el severo impacto de la amalgamación y del reprocesamiento de jales de amalgamación en Cedral. Con relación a las concentraciones solubles de Hg, en las muestras de residuos se obtuvieron de 0.009 a 0.32 mg/kg y de 0.003 a 0.02 mg/kg para suelos, lo que representa de 0.007 % a 0.54 % y < 0.03 % del total de Hg contenido en residuos mineros y suelos, respectivamente. Esto indica un bajo potencial de transporte de especies solubles de Hg durante eventos de lluvia. Finalmente, las concentraciones de Hg bioaccesible obtenidas en el estudio (0.1...

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Section: Concentration Of Soluble Hg In the Mining Wastes And Soilssupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Concentration Of Soluble Hg In the Mining Wastes And Soilssupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

Section: Bioaccessible Hg In the Mining Waste And Soil Samplesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Pollution Assessment of Mining Wastes and Soils From Former Silver Amalgamation Area in North-Central Mexico

Vicencio

Carrizales-Yáñez

Razo-Soto

2017

Rev. Int. Contam. Ambie.

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“…There are few detailed scientific studies related to the evaluation of Hg contamination in the Cedral area. Morton-Bermea et al (2015) reported Hg concentration in soils and tailings in the area as well as preliminary data of Hg concentration in blood samples from school-age children in Cedral. Morton-Bermea et al (2015) presented evidence of the high concentrations of Hg contained in mining waste as well as valuable information on the proportion of the different Hg chemical species contained in soils and tailing samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury in Blood of Children Exposed to Historical Residues from Metallurgical Activity

et al. 2021

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The fate of most of the Hg used to obtain Ag through amalgamation in colonial America is uncertain. Residues of this process are often unsecured, and the environmental risk they pose is frequently unknown. The aim of this study is to assess the exposure of the children population of the town of Cedral in North Central Mexico to Hg associated with uncontrolled historical amalgamation residues (tailings). Tailings were partially reprocessed in the twentieth century to obtain the remaining Ag and Hg, modifying the chemical forms of Hg in the residue and producing inorganic Hg compounds. Earlier reports show high concentrations of Hg in the soils and in the two main deposits of metallurgical waste in Cedral. A moderate level of exposure to Hg (geometric mean 3.5 µg L −1 ) was identified in blood samples from school-age children. A result assessment shows the importance of inhalation as a significant exposure route as well as the bioavailability of the Hg chemical form. Hg 0 content in gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) reaches concentrations of up to 1793 ng m −3 in the atmosphere and, due to a low bioavailability, probably contributes only in small proportion to human exposure. Inorganic Hg compounds in the tailings generated during the reprocessing procedure are contained in the particulate fraction in the atmosphere (PM2.5; mean concentration 23.6 ng m −3 ) and may contribute in a higher proportion than GEM to human exposure, due to its higher bioavailability.

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The News Media and Environmental Challenges in Mexico: The Structural Deficits in the Coverage and Reporting by the Press

Chávez

Márquez

Flores

et al. 2018

News Media Coverage of Environmental Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean

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Anthropogenic impact of the use of Hg in mining activities in Cedral S.L.P. Mexico

Cited by 10 publications

References 25 publications

Mercury Pollution Assessment of Mining Wastes and Soils From Former Silver Amalgamation Area in North-Central Mexico

Mercury Pollution Assessment of Mining Wastes and Soils From Former Silver Amalgamation Area in North-Central Mexico

Mercury in Blood of Children Exposed to Historical Residues from Metallurgical Activity

The News Media and Environmental Challenges in Mexico: The Structural Deficits in the Coverage and Reporting by the Press

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