Assessing the spatial distribution and ecologic and human health risks in mangrove soils polluted by Hg in northeastern Brazil

Araújo, Paula Renata Muniz; Biondi, Caroline Miranda; Nascimento, Clístenes Williams Araújo do; Silva, Fernando Bruno Vieira da; Silva, William Ramos da; Silva, Franklone Lima da; Ferreira, Djennyfer Karolaine de Melo

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129019

Cited by 21 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Regarding soils and sediments, in contrary to the cases mentioned above, the Hg concentrations (0.1-10.4 mg/kg in soils, 0.1-14.4 mg/kg in sediments) of the Botafogo River, Brazil reported by Araujo et al [52,66] were generally lower than those in the present study. The operation of the CAP in the case of Brazil from 1963 to 1987 caused severe Hg contamination as a result of the uncontrolled discharge into the Botafogo River.…”

Section: Comparison Of Hg Contamination With Literaturecontrasting

confidence: 96%

Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

et al. 2021

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Former industrially contaminated sites are a burden from the past that still pose environmental risks. During the second half of the 20th century, the Pavlodar region in North Kazakhstan had been a part of Soviet Union’s industrial system that operated a chlor-alkali plant (CAP). The former CAP discharged approximately 135 t Hg into nearby Lake Balkyldak with total losses to water, soil, and air estimated around 1000 t. Pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs) due to former and currently active industrial enterprises is an under-investigated concern in the Pavlodar region. The present study aims to provide a much-needed update on the situation around the CAP area by evaluating the contamination by Hg and other selected PTEs (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn) on the surrounding environment of the CAP and in the nearby urban zone. Soil, sediment, surface water, and groundwater samples have been collected in several sampling campaigns carried out in 2018 and 2019. Several samples had Hg concentrations exceeding maximum permissible concentrations (MPC), for soils and sediments (in mg/kg; range: 0.0006 to 24, average: 0.56) and for surface water and groundwater (in µg/L; range: 0.004 to 1340, average: 93). Critically high concentrations were mostly measured in the vicinity of Lake Balkyldak, where the majority of Hg had been discharged by the former CAP, indicating persisting Hg pollution in the studied zone. A comparison of the PTEs concentrations in soil and sediments showed less severe pollution but still some elevated values for As, Ba, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, and Se. The inter-elemental relationship between Hg and assessed PTEs was weak, indicating the presence of sources independent from Hg emitting sources. Further research on Hg contamination on the exact territory of the former CAP is needed, and a detailed human health risk characterization to identify potential unacceptable risks is strongly recommended.

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Section: Comparison Of Hg Contamination With Literaturecontrasting

confidence: 96%

Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

et al. 2021

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“…However, this estuary is subject to high tourism, agricultural, aquaculture levels, fishing activities, and the discharges of domestic and industrial effluents (CPRH, 2010). The latter have increased mercury concentrations beyond environmentally acceptable levels (Araújo et al, 2021) and reduced mangrove coverage in this area by 10% over the last three decades (Pelage et al, 2021). In this case, habitat degradation (Pelage et al, 2021) mainly affects the low trophic levels composed of the main target species of the multiple gears used in the estuary (Ferreira et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of fishing effort on the trophic functioning of tropical estuaries in Brazil

Lira

Lucena‐Frédou

Lacerda³

et al. 2022

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science

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“…Total hazard quotients were calculated based on USEPA RfD and WHO acceptable daily intake, with values ranging from 1.53-15.8 and 0.66-6.88, respectively, indicating the potential risks for the local population [61]. High HI values (0.02-2.35 for children and 0.02-1.46 for adults) were also reported by a study evaluating the impact of CAP in Botafogo, Brazil [62]. The main exposure pathway for both age categories was found to be the inhalation of Hg vapors, contributing from 80% to 92% to the non-carcinogenic risk value, which is similar to the results of the current study.…”

Section: Comparison To Literaturementioning

confidence: 98%

Potential Human Exposure to Mercury (Hg) in a Chlor-Alkali Plant Impacted Zone: Risk Characterization Using Updated Site Assessment Data

et al. 2021

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Industrial activities have resulted in severe environmental contamination that may expose rural and urban populations to unacceptable health risks. For example, chlor-alkali plants (CAPs) have historically contributed mercury (Hg) contamination in different environmental compartments. One such site (a burden from the Soviet Union) is located in an industrial complex in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. Earlier studies showed the CAP operating in the second half of the twentieth century caused elevated Hg levels in soil, water, air, and biota. However, follow-up studies with thorough risk characterization are missing. The present study aims to provide a detailed risk characterization based on the data from a recent site assessment around the former CAP. The ⅀HI (hazard index) ranged from 9.30 × 10−4 to 0.125 (deterministic method) and from 5.19 × 10−4 to 2.54 × 10−2 (probabilistic method). The results indicate acceptable excess human health risks from exposure to Hg contamination in the region, i.e., exposure to other Hg sources not considered. Air inhalation and soil ingestion pathways contributed to the highest ⅀HI values (up to 99.9% and 92.0%, respectively). The residential exposure scenario (among four) presented the greatest human health risks, with ⅀HI values ranging from 1.23 × 10−2 to 0.125. Although the local urban and rural population is exposed to acceptable risks coming from exposure to Hg-contaminated environmental media, an assessment of contamination directly on the former CAP site on the industrial complex could not be performed due to access prohibition. Furthermore, the risks from ingesting contaminated fish were not covered as methyl-Hg was not targeted. An additional assessment may be needed for the scenarios of exposure of workers on the industrial complex and of the local population consuming fish from contaminated Lake Balkyldak. Studies on the fate and transport of Hg in the contaminated ecosystem are also recommended considering Hg methylation and subsequent bioaccumulation in the food chain.

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Assessing the spatial distribution and ecologic and human health risks in mangrove soils polluted by Hg in northeastern Brazil

Cited by 21 publications

References 61 publications

Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

Assessment of Distribution of Potentially Toxic Elements in Different Environmental Media Impacted by a Former Chlor-Alkali Plant

Effect of fishing effort on the trophic functioning of tropical estuaries in Brazil

Potential Human Exposure to Mercury (Hg) in a Chlor-Alkali Plant Impacted Zone: Risk Characterization Using Updated Site Assessment Data

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