Impacts on aquatic biota from salinization and metalloid contamination by gold mine tailings in sub-Arctic lakes

Perrett, Madi; Sivarajah, Branaavan; Cheney, Cynthia L.; Korosi, Jennifer B.; Kimpe, Linda E.; Blais, Jules M.; Smol, John P.

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116815

Cited by 20 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The diffusion of ions from mine effluents in waterways results in a possible severe threat to stream invertebrate communities. The effects of salinity are notable for different organisms like prokaryote communities in groundwater [38], algal assemblages [35], and benthic invertebrates [39]. Salinization can therefore also modify the ecological status of the water, as was shown in our study, but also be a factor favoring the appearance of alien and invasive species.…”

Section: Comparison Of Diversity and Density Of Aquatic Invertebrates...supporting

confidence: 71%

“…There is also a strong need to monitor rivers' ecological status, especially in areas of coal mine activities and after mine closure. As was shown in the study of [35], in the area of gold mine activity, the extreme saline conditions strongly influence the present biota, more than 10 years after the cessation of mining activities at Con Mine. Analyses by Kaushal et al [36] have shown that freshwater, as one of the most precious resources, is now becoming seriously degraded with multiple ions and chemical mixtures globally, on regional and local scales.…”

Section: Biological Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 73%

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Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland

Mitko,

Dydo,

Milewski

et al. 2024

Water

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Coal mining activity contributes to energy security and employment occupation, but is associated with environmental deterioration. Coal combustion leads to GHG emissions, while coal mining results in the generation of saline effluents. These effluents are discharged in inland surface waters, applying significant pressure on their quality, with a negative impact on aquatic life and the economy of a region. This study includes water samples that were analyzed in order to investigate the organic compounds, heavy metals, and other physicochemical parameters. Biological monitoring was done according to the Water Framework Directive methodology. The results from an aquatic area in Southern Poland, which indirectly receives coal mine effluents, indicate elevated salinity with excessive chlorides, sulfates, and sodium ions. The water quality of another non-polluted aquatic area was also assessed to examine the impact of indirect coal mine wastewater discharge on this area. The high salinity levels hinder the use of river water for drinking, agricultural, or industrial purposes. The results obtained show high pressure on the ecological status of streams and rivers that receive mine effluents, and on the density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates. This pressure is clearly visible in the structure of benthic communities and in invertebrate diversity. It also contributes to the appearance of invasive species and increasing water salinity. Limiting discharges of mine water transporting large loads of saline substances would reduce the negative impact on the quality of river waters and biological life.

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Section: Comparison Of Diversity and Density Of Aquatic Invertebrates...supporting

confidence: 71%

Section: Biological Water Qualitymentioning

confidence: 73%

Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland

Mitko,

Dydo,

Milewski

et al. 2024

Water

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“…We also observed increases from premining background levels in sedimentary Cr, Pb, and Zn at all downstream lakes after mining activities began in the 1860s. A growing number of studies emphasize the importance of approaching mine tailings pollution as a mixture of contaminants, even when one or two elements may be present in much higher concentrations relative to others (Leppänen et al 2017;Little et al 2020;Perrett et al 2021;. The presence of co-occurring metal(loid)s, albeit at varying levels, should be considered when assessing sediment quality and potential toxicity because biota are often exposed to multiple contaminants in aquatic ecosystems (Rose et al 2018).…”

Section: Sediment Quality Guidelines and Paleotoxicity In Mine-impact...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Historical gold-mining operations have increased metal(loid) concentrations in freshwater sediments from Canada (Azcue et al 1995;Galloway et al 2018;Tenkouano et al 2019;Cheney et al 2020) and around the world (Odumo et al 2014;Pinedo-Hernández et al 2015;Moreno-Brush et al 2016;Hillman et al 2017;Yaraghi et al 2020). The mineralization of gold-bearing ores and various ore-processing approaches (e.g., roasting, crushing, amalgamation) used to extract gold produce finely-ground tailings elevated in toxic metal(loid)s, which can be transported to waterbodies via surface runoff or aerial deposition (Azcue et al 1995;Pelletier et al 2020;Perrett et al 2021). Materials released from goldmine tailings and mineral-processing by-products can accumulate in aquatic sediments, thus polluting benthic habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical gold mining increased metal(loid) concentrations in lake sediments from Nova Scotia, Canada

Sivarajah,

Campbell,

Smol

et al. 2024

FACETS

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Historical gold mining operations between the 1860s and 1940s have left substantial quantities of arsenic- and mercury-rich tailings near abandoned mines in remote and urban areas of Nova Scotia, Canada. Large amounts of materials from the tailings have entered the surface waters of downstream aquatic ecosystems at concentrations that present a risk to benthos. We used paleolimnological approaches to examine long-term trends in sedimentary metal(loid) concentrations, assess potential sediment toxicity, and determine if geochemical recovery has occurred at four lakes located downstream of three productive gold-mining districts. During the historical mining era, sedimentary total arsenic and mercury concentrations and enrichment factors increased substantially at all downstream lakes that received inputs from tailings. Similarly, chromium, lead, and zinc concentrations increased in the sediments after mining activities began and the urbanization that followed. The calculated probable effects of concentration quotients (PEC-Qs) for sediments exceeded the probable biological effects threshold (PEC-Q > 2) during the mining era. Although sedimentary metal(loid) concentrations have decreased for most elements in recent sediments, relatively higher PEC-Q and continued exceedance of Canadian Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines suggest that complete geochemical recovery has not occurred. It is likely that surface runoff from tailing fields, urbanization, and climate-mediated changes are impacting geochemical recovery trajectories.

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“…It has also adversely affected the surrounding ecological environment ( Mendez and Maier, 2008 ; Huang et al, 2021 ). Besides, tailings that contain a large amount of heavy metals lead and zinc, can easily pollute the soil, which would in turn potentially threaten human health ( Timothy et al, 2019 ; Wang, 2019 ; Perrett et al, 2021 ). Besides, due to long-term mining and unreasonable management, the tailings ponds formed by lead-zinc mining activities have been accumulating for years, forming a continuous source of heavy metal pollution, resulting in a serious decline in soil quality and possible changes in soil microbial diversity and community structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differential response of the soil nutrients, soil bacterial community structure and metabolic functions to different risk areas in Lead-Zine tailings

Liu,

Zhuang,

Zheng

et al. 2023

Front. Microbiol.

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Rapid growth in the mining industry has brought about a large formation of tailings, which result in serious destruction of the ecological environment and severe soil pollution problems. This study assesses soil nutrients, soil bacterial community and soil microbes’ metabolic function in heavily polluted areas (W1), moderately polluted areas (W2), lightly polluted areas (W3) and clean areas (CK) using 16S Illumina sequencing. The results of this study showed that compared with CK, a severe loss of soil nutrients and richness of OTUs (Chao1 and ACE indices) were observed with the aggravated pollution of tailings. The Chao1 and ACE indices in the W1 group decreased significantly by 15.53 and 16.03%, respectively, (p < 0.01). Besides, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria was high whereas and relative abundance of Chloroflexi in the polluted areas. Among them, W1 groups increased significantly the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and decreased significantly the relative abundance of Chloroflexi, these can be used as indicator phyla for changes in soil community structures under polluted stress. Tax4 Fun analysis showed that W1 groups affected the soil bacterial community and altered the primary types of biological metabolism in polluted areas. Tailings have adverse impacts on soil bacterial community and metabolic functions, and the deterioration in soil quality is dependent on the levels of tailings pollution. Cumulatively, this study provides valuable information on the bacterial community structure and metabolic functions in the tailing polluted soil.

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Impacts on aquatic biota from salinization and metalloid contamination by gold mine tailings in sub-Arctic lakes

Cited by 20 publications

References 43 publications

Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland

Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland

Historical gold mining increased metal(loid) concentrations in lake sediments from Nova Scotia, Canada

Differential response of the soil nutrients, soil bacterial community structure and metabolic functions to different risk areas in Lead-Zine tailings

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