Heavy metal dispersion, persistance, and bioccumulation around an ancient copper mine situated in Anglesey, UK

Wilson, Bob; Pyatt, FB

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2006.02.015

Cited by 205 publications

(83 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Heavy metals are ubiquitous in the environment, as a result of both natural and anthropogenic activities, and humans are exposed to them through various pathways (Wilson and Pyatt, 2007). Wastewater irrigation, solid waste disposal, sludge applications, vehicular exhaust and industrial activities are the major sources of soil contamination with heavy metals, and an increased metal uptake by food crops grown on such contaminated soils is often observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China

Khan

Cao

Zheng

et al. 2008

Environmental Pollution

2,038

912

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Long-term wastewater irrigation leads to buildup of heavy metals in soils and food crops. AbstractConsumption of food crops contaminated with heavy metals is a major food chain route for human exposure. We studied the health risks of heavy metals in contaminated food crops irrigated with wastewater. Results indicate that there is a substantial buildup of heavy metals in wastewater-irrigated soils, collected from Beijing, China. Heavy metal concentrations in plants grown in wastewater-irrigated soils were significantly higher (P 0.001) than in plants grown in the reference soil, and exceeded the permissible limits set by the State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) in China and the World Health Organization (WHO). Furthermore, this study highlights that both adults and children consuming food crops grown in wastewater-irrigated soils ingest significant amount of the metals studied. However, health risk index values of less than 1 indicate a relative absence of health risks associated with the ingestion of contaminated vegetables.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China

Khan

Cao

Zheng

et al. 2008

Environmental Pollution

2,038

912

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Several toxic metals have not only become ubiquitous, but have heavily loaded the environment, posing serious threats to humans and other forms of life (Wilson and Pyatt, 2007;Saeed et al 2009). The lasting negative impact of these metals in the environment is due to their non-biodegradable nature, long biological half-lives ranging from 10 -3,000 years, and the potential to accumulate in different body parts (Han, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of heavy metals toxicity on the biochemical response in tomato plants grown in contaminated silt-soil

Saeed

Sohail

Rashi

et al. 2014

Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.

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Toxic effects of Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ in tomato plants were the reduction in vegetative growth of seedlings and also in flowering and fruiting. Toxicity of these heavy metals resulted in a reduction in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and soluble sugars, but in an increase in proline. Toxic metal stress caused a 71.71, 77.70 and 11.90% increase in the activities of peroxidase, catalase and ascorbic acid oxidase, respectively. With respect to the total uptake of Cd 2+ , the biggest sink for the metal was provided by roots with 72.80% retention followed by 22% in the stem. Accumulation of Cd 2+ and Zn 2+ gradually increased in the order of root, stem and leaves, but for Cu 2+ that was reversed, that is, it increased in the order of leaf, stem and root. A new consideration of metals bioavailability is discussed in terms of their respective solubility product constants, pH of precipitation, and metal complexation.

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“…Natural deposits include exposed bedrock, soils, and streams, while waste deposits include smelt soils and muds, mine drainage systems, and associated Fe(III) (oxy)hydroxide (ochre) stream sediment deposits [23,24,[26][27][28][29][30][31]. Previous studies at Parys Mountain have generally focused on the uptake, retention, and environmental impact associated with toxic metal contamination on bioaccumulation and plants [31][32][33][34][35], and environmental contamination of muds and stream waters of a select suite of major and trace element concentrations [26][27][28]36]. Weathering of waste spoil heaps and bedrock, and subsequent oxidation of sulphides, has led to the development of acidic waters that drain into rivers, smaller connected streams, standing water bodies, and eventually Dulas Bay (Figure 1).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Selenium and Other Trace Element Mobility in Waste Products and Weathered Sediments at Parys Mountain Copper Mine, Anglesey, UK

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The Parys Mountain copper mining district (Anglesey, North Wales) hosts exposed pyritic bedrock, solid mine waste spoil heaps, and acid drainage (ochre sediment) deposits. Both natural and waste deposits show elevated trace element concentrations, including selenium (Se), at abundances of both economic and environmental consideration. Elevated concentrations of semimetals such as Se in waste smelts highlight the potential for economic reserves in this and similar base metal mining sites. Selenium is sourced from the pyritic bedrock and concentrations are retained in red weathering smelt soils, but lost in bedrock-weathered soils and clays. Selenium correlates with Te, Au, Bi, Cd, Hg, Pb, S, and Sb across bedrock and weathered deposits. Man-made mine waste deposits show enrichment of As, Bi, Cu, Sb, and Te, with Fe oxide-rich smelt materials containing high Pb, up to 1.5 wt %, and Au contents, up to 1.2 ppm. The trace elements As, Co, Cu, and Pb are retained from bedrock to all sediments, including high Cu content in Fe oxide-rich ochre sediments. The high abundance and mobility of trace elements in sediments and waters should be considered as potential pollutants to the area, and also as a source for economic reserves of previously extracted and new strategic commodities.

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Heavy metal dispersion, persistance, and bioccumulation around an ancient copper mine situated in Anglesey, UK

Cited by 205 publications

References 17 publications

Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China

Health risks of heavy metals in contaminated soils and food crops irrigated with wastewater in Beijing, China

Effects of heavy metals toxicity on the biochemical response in tomato plants grown in contaminated silt-soil

Selenium and Other Trace Element Mobility in Waste Products and Weathered Sediments at Parys Mountain Copper Mine, Anglesey, UK

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