Heavy metal pollution and environmental risks in the water of Rongna River caused by natural AMD around Tiegelongnan copper deposit, Northern Tibet, China

Abstract

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is one of the biggest environmental challenges associated with in the mining process. Most of the current research on AMD focuses on developed deposits, whereas there is almost no research on naturally-produced AMD from undeveloped deposits. In this study, river water and AMD were collected to analyze the distribution characteristics of heavy metals and the phytoplankton community. In addition, the environmental risks of heavy metals were evaluated by single-factor pollution index, Nemerow pollution index and health risk assessment model. The results show that the pH of the Rongna River water ranged from 6.52 to 8.46, and the average concentrations of Mn and Ni were 867.37 and 28.44 μg/L, respectively, which exceed the corresponding Grade III Environmental Quality Standard of Surface Water. The results of the environmental health risk assessment show that the river section of the Rongna River was seriously polluted by the heavy metal Mn after AMD confluence, and the health risk assessment indicates that oral ingestion of Mn posed a potential non-carcinogenic risk to children and adults. A total of 35 phytoplankton species were found in the Rongna River. The phytoplankton biomass was negatively correlated with the concentration of major heavy metals, indicating that the heavy metal concentration exceeded the tolerance limit of phytoplankton, thereby affecting their normal growth. Finally, statistical analysis shows that Cu, Zn, Ni, Mn and Cd in the Rongna River were mainly derived from AMD.

Chimeric MerR-Family Regulators and Logic Elements for the Design of Metal Sensitive Genetic Circuits inBacillus subtilis

“…4E). Moreover, the operational range was within the range of Cu 2+ concentrations found in polluted environments 57–59 , validating the potential use of this sensor as a relevant Cu 2+ monitoring tool. These results confirmed that structure-guided mutagenesis indeed can be used to restore protein functionality following construction of MerR hybrid proteins.…”

Chimeric MerR-Family Regulators and Logic Elements for the Design of Metal Sensitive Genetic Circuits in Bacillus subtilis

“…MerRCueR mut3 provided the highest RLU/OD 600 output at each concentration and an LOD (10 μM) below the EPA guideline value of 20.45 μM (Figure E). Moreover, the operational range was within the range of Cu 2+ concentrations found in polluted environments, − validating the potential use of this sensor as a relevant Cu 2+ monitoring tool. These results confirmed that structure-guided mutagenesis indeed can be used to restore protein functionality following construction of MerR hybrid proteins.…”

A Review on water and sedimentary Lead concentrations in Kenya’s surface water bodies

“…According to Bhuyan et al, 2019 study, for Old Brahmaputra river, Bangladesh, concentration of Pb ranged between 4.8 to 9.8 mg/kg in sediment, with the highest concentration (9.8 mg/kg) at Belanagor in post-monsoon and water Pb concentration were between 0.01 to 0.21 mg/l. After entry of natural acid mine drainage to Rongna river, heavy metal concentrations were significantly greater compared to Bolong river, control samples, with Pb concentrations were reported at 3 times for the former with relation to the latter, statistical analysis indicated the presence of Pb may have been due to rock weathering (Luo et al, 2022). Astatkie et al, 2021 study for Awatu watershed, Ethiopia indicated high concentration of sedimentary Pb, with mean value 2005.94 mg/kg, correlation analysis showed that heavy metals had common anthropogenic pollution sources due to rapid urbanization and discharging of water inappropriately.…”