Ecotoxicological risks of the abandoned F–Ba–Pb–Zn mining area of Osor (Spain)

Abstract

Aquesta és una còpia de la versió author's final draft d'un article publicat a la revista Environmental geochemistry and health.La publicació final està disponible a Springer a través de http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9840-2 This is a copy of the author 's final draft version of an article published in the journal Environmental geochemistry and health. AbstractDue to its potential toxic properties, metal mobilization is of major concern in areas surrounding PbZn mines. In the present study, metal contents and toxicity of soils, water extracts from soils, and mine drainage waters from an abandoned F-Ba-Pb-Zn mining area in Osor (Girona, NE Spain) were evaluated through chemical extractions and ecotoxicity bioassays. Toxicity assessment in the terrestrial compartment included lethal and sublethal endpoints on earthworms Eisenia foetida, arthropods Folsomia candida and several plant species whereas aquatic tests involved bacteria Vibrio fischeri, microalgae Raphidocelis subcapitata and crustaceans Daphnia magna. Metal quantifications revealed high concentrations of Ba (250-5110 mg kg -1 ), Pb (940->5000 mg kg -1 ) and Zn (2370-11300 mg kg -1 ) that exceeded intervention values to protect human health. Risks for the aquatic compartment were identified through the release of drainage waters and by leaching and run-offs from metal-contaminated soils. Cd (1.98-9.15 µg L -1 ), Pb (2.11-326 µg L -1 ) and Zn (280-2900 µg L -1 ) in water samples surpassed international values of aquatic life criteria. Terrestrial ecotoxicity tests were in accordance with metal quantifications and identified the most polluted soil as the most toxic. Avoidance and reproduction tests with earthworms showed the highest sensitivity to metal contamination. Aquatic bioassays with extracts from soils confirmed the results from terrestrial tests and detected severe toxic effects caused by the mine drainage waters. Algal growth inhibition was the most sensitive aquatic endpoint. In view of the results, the application of a containment or remediative procedure in the area is encouraged.

Trace metal element pollution of soil and water resources caused by small-scale metallic ore mining activities: a case study from a sphalerite mine in North China

“…After decades, a large number of ores deposit in the surface soil with the help of rainfalls, with a maximum thickness of 3.2 cm. The concentrations of Zn and Pb in soil samples are much more variable among the sampling sites, with similar to the results of the Osor mine district (Bori et al 2017), and 100 times higher than those found at the Zeïda district (Morocco) (El Azhari et al 2017). Compared with the areas mentioned above, the trace metal pollution in soils and water caused by small mines in the Yanshan Mountains really deserves certain attention and vigilance.…”

Soil moisture influences the avoidance behavior of invertebrate species in anthropogenic metal(loid)-contaminated soils

“…Our results agree with previous studies (Natal-da-Luz et al, 2009;Bori et al, 2016Bori et al, , 2017 and could be related to the relatively resistance of collembolans to metal(loid) contamination Hopkin, 2001, 2005). The preference response of F.…”

Soil and Freshwater Bioassays to Assess Ecotoxicological Impact on Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Iberian Pyrite Belt

“…Both Zn and Cu were in concentrations above the EC50 values established for R. subcapitata and D. magna (Table 5). The results were in accordance with metal concentrations obtained in industrial soils and from mining areas contaminated by trace metals [29]. Trace elements such as Zn can increase its toxicity (additive effect) by the presence of other trace metals (i.e., Co), this can explain the toxicity in the elutriates when only Zn and Cu were detected [30,40].…”