Contamination of soil and grass in the Tsumeb smelter area, Namibia: Modeling of contaminants dispersion and ground geochemical verification

Křı́bek, Bohdan; Majer, Vladimı́r; Knésl, Ilja; Keder, Josef; Mapani, Benjamin; Kamona, Frederick; Mihaljevič, Martin; Ettler, Vojtěch; Penížek, Vít; Vaněk, Aleš; Šráček, Ondra

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2015.07.006

Cited by 34 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Smelters are known to be a major source of heavy metal contamination [ 1 ]; the Zn smelter in the survey area of this study has been active for over 50 years, and heavy metal contamination due to smelter activity has been reported on several occasions. However, there are only a few surveys of heavy metal exposure to residents living near the smelter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Smelters are a well-known source of heavy metal emissions [ 1 , 2 ] and can affect the regional environment. One study from southern Mexico reported that heavy metal concentration in over 90% of roadside dust samples from regions near active smelters exceeded the Superfund cleanup goals, which are 5–65, 3–20 and 200–500 µg/g, for soil arsenic, cadmium and lead, respectively [ 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chronic Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Residents Living near a Zinc Smelter

Kim

Chang

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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This study aimed to measure lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) exposure levels in residents living near a zinc (Zn) smelter in Seokpo-myeon, Bonghwa-gun, South Korea, and identify factors affecting exposure. Residents aged ≥20 years living within 3 km and ≥30 km away from the smelter were classified as the exposure group (n = 549), and the control group (n = 265), respectively. Data were obtained through a questionnaire survey. Blood Pb levels in the exposure group (4.19 µg/dL) were higher than in the control group (2.70 µg/dL). The exposure group (1.32 µg/L) also had higher urinary Cd concentrations than the control group (0.80 µg/L). Male sex, older age, previous work at the smelter, smoking, and proximity to the smelter were associated with higher blood Pb levels on multivariate analysis; urinary Cd concentration was significantly higher in women, those who were older, those with experience of working in a Zn smelter or mine, those with proximity to the Zn smelter, and those who consumed locally grown vegetables. In conclusion, Zn smelters are major source of Pb and Cd pollution and require ongoing public health management to prevent potential adverse health effects.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronic Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Residents Living near a Zinc Smelter

Kim

Chang

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…Jordanova et al 2013 ; Li et al 2014 ; Baran and Wieczorek 2015 ; Cao et al 2015 ; Rachwał et al 2015 , 2017 ; Qing et al 2015 ; Bourliva et al 2017 ). Soil contamination by PTE, especially heavy metals and its possible consequences, was reported by many researchers from around the world where metal ore-bearing rocks have been exploited and smelted (McMartin et al 2002 ; Svendsen et al 2011 ; Šajn et al 2013 ; Vaněk et al 2013 ; Chrastný et al 2015 ; Kapusta and Sobczyk 2015 ; Ettler 2016 ; Kríbek et al 2016 ). Generally, the metallurgical wastes and ore processing itself were treated as the single pollution source.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Integration of soil magnetometry and geochemistry for assessment of human health risk from metallurgical slag dumps

Rachwał

Wawer

Magiera

et al. 2017

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The main objective of the study was an assessment of the pollution level of agricultural land located close to dumps of industrial waste remaining after former Zn and Pb ore processing in Poland. The integrated geophysical-geochemical methods were applied for assessment of soil quality with respect to trace element pollution. Additionally, human health risk induced by the contaminated arable soil and dusting slag heap was estimated. The investigations pointed out that soils in the vicinity of the metallurgical slag dump in Piekary were heavily polluted. Spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility corresponding well with distribution of the content of potentially toxic elements indicated the local “pollution hotspots.” Proper geophysical and geochemical data interpretation supported by statistical factor analysis enabled identification of three different sources of pollution including metallurgical slug dump as a main source, but also traffic pollution influencing the area located along the busy road and relatively strong influence of the geochemical background. Computed health hazard index revealed no adverse health effect to the farmers cultivating arable soil, but in the direct vicinity of dusting, slag dump health risk occurred, caused mostly by very toxic elements as As and Tl. In the future, investigation should be focused on contribution of different sources to the heavy metal pollution in soil-crop system in this area. It should be highlighted that a site-specific approach should be taken in order to redevelop this kind of area in order to reduce ecological and human health threat. The study proved the integrated two-stage geophysical-geochemical method to be a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective tool for identification of the extent of soil pollution and areas at risk.

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“…Metal mining and the associated industries are one of the main sources of metal(loid) emissions worldwide [1][2][3][4][5], largely because of the enormous quantity of waste generated during metal smelting and the elevated concentrations of potentially toxic metal(loid)s, such as As and Pb, which are produced by refining processes [6][7][8][9]. Some of these materials are released into the atmosphere as fine particles, whereas liquid wastes and larger solid materials are deposited in the vicinity of mining operations [10][11][12]. The metal(loid)s can subsequently be dispersed through runoff and the chemical or biological conversion of the waste itself [13,14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mobility and Bioavailability of Metal(loid)s in a Fluvial System Affected by the Mining and Industrial Processing of Pb

et al. 2021

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The abandoned mining district of Linares (South Spain) is marked with waste from the mining and the processing of metal ores that pose an environmental hazard to watercourses. A combined analysis of waste, sediments and water was carried out to analyse the impact of a smelter on Baños Creek. The composition of the facility waste was determined using X-ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy. The total contents of the metal(loid)s in the waters and sediments of the watercourse were analysed, and sequential metal(loid) extraction of solid samples was carried out. The facility wastes consisted mainly of secondary minerals, such as natropharmacosiderite and spertiniite, as well as rare metal salts, such as mopungite and NaPb2(CO3)2(OH). The leachates generated by these wastes were highly alkaline, with a pH of 10 and a total dissolved solids concentration of approximately 9 g L−1. This Na-bicarbonate-type water had an As concentration above 200 mg L−1 and elevated levels of Pb, Sb and Zn (5029 µg L−1, 841 µg L−1 and 525 µg L−1, respectively). This highly contaminated lixiviate had a significant effect on the chemical quality of the waters and the bioavailability of metal(loid)s in the creek sediments, especially in the headwaters. In this zone, the As, Pb, Sb and Zn concentrations in the most mobile fraction of the sediments reached 1035 mg kg−1, 261 mg kg−1, 45 mg kg−1 and 30 mg kg−1, respectively. By comparison, smelter slag and mining waste have a much lower impact on the waters and the mobile fraction of the sediments, while significantly increasing the total concentration of these potentially toxic elements in creek sediments.

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Contamination of soil and grass in the Tsumeb smelter area, Namibia: Modeling of contaminants dispersion and ground geochemical verification

Cited by 34 publications

References 66 publications

Chronic Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Residents Living near a Zinc Smelter

Chronic Exposure to Lead and Cadmium in Residents Living near a Zinc Smelter

Integration of soil magnetometry and geochemistry for assessment of human health risk from metallurgical slag dumps

Mobility and Bioavailability of Metal(loid)s in a Fluvial System Affected by the Mining and Industrial Processing of Pb

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