Is mercury from small-scale gold mining prevalent in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon?

Moreno-Brush, Mónica; Rydberg, Johan; Gamboa, Nadia; Storch, Ilse; Biester, Harald

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.038

Cited by 62 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…However, δ 15 N baseline-corrected trophic position were positively, linearly correlated with Hg fish for each river. Suggesting that, similar to previous studies in the region, feeding behavior and trophic position are better bioindicators of Hg fish than fish size in the region [27,33]. We found only one detritivorous fish, yulilla , with Hg fish higher than the USEPA criterion.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…Hg sed measured for this study are consistent with prior studies that evaluated Hg sed from the ASGM-impacted Malinowski River [27,30,33]. Riverine sites closer to ASGM activities tended to have higher Hg sed (i.e., Malinowski and Tambopata rivers), while rivers more remote from mining activities tended to have lower Hg sed (i.e., Heath River).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…Similar to previous studies conducted in ASGM-impacted river reaches, we found it difficult to collect fish where ASGM was most intense [33,70]. Nonetheless, after spending 20+ hours in Malinowski River, we were able to collect 80 fish samples over both seasons.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…δ 15 N becomes more enriched with each subsequent trophic position. Higher Hg fish in Tambopata River were unexpected given their lower δ 15 N because lower trophic levels fish tend to have lower Hg concentrations [27,28,33,63]. Mean δ 13 C was most depleted in Heath River throughout both seasons (−33.2 ± 3.6‰), followed by Malinowski (−29.8 ± 2.3‰) and Tambopata (−28.4 ± 3.6‰) rivers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Previous research in the study area have reported elevated Hg concentrations in human hair and in commercial fish species in locations with ASGM activities as well as in locations without ASGM activities [19,27,28,29,30,31,32]. Fish sampling in these rivers is difficult because waters tend to be uninhabitable by fish due to high turbidity from very high suspended solids loads [33]. …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mercury Contamination in Riverine Sediments and Fish Associated with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru

Martinez

McCord

Driscoll

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in Madre de Dios, Peru, continues to expand rapidly, raising concerns about increases in loading of mercury (Hg) to the environment. We measured physicochemical parameters in water and sampled and analyzed sediments and fish from multiple sites along one ASGM-impacted river and two unimpacted rivers in the region to examine whether Hg concentrations were elevated and possibly related to ASGM activity. We also analyzed the 308 fish samples, representing 36 species, for stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C) to estimate their trophic position. Trophic position was positively correlated with the log-transformed Hg concentrations in fish among all sites. There was a lack of relationship between Hg concentrations in fish and either Hg concentrations in sediments or ASGM activity among sites, suggesting that fish Hg concentrations alone is not an ideal bioindicator of site-specific Hg contamination in the region. Fish Hg concentrations were not elevated in the ASGM-impacted river relative to the other two rivers; however, sediment Hg concentrations were highest in the ASGM-impacted river. Degraded habitat conditions and commensurate shifts in fish species and ecological processes may influence Hg bioaccumulation in the ASGM-impacted river. More research is needed on food web dynamics in the region to elucidate any effects caused by ASGM, especially through feeding relationships and food sources.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Mercury Contamination in Riverine Sediments and Fish Associated with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru

Martinez

McCord

Driscoll

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Tropical surface gold mining: A review of ecological impacts and restoration strategies

et al. 2022

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Surface gold mining severely degrades landscapes, causing deforestation, soil erosion and displacement, and toxic contamination. The prevalence of both large-scale and artisanal, small-scale surface gold mining in the tropics has risen over recent decades.Restoration strategies developed for less-severe forms of degradation may not sufficiently address the unique ecological conditions of former gold mines. In this review, we summarize biophysical challenges to the restoration and reforestation of largeand small-scale gold mines in the tropics and synthesize the findings of studies that test restoration strategies at these sites. Certain practices, such as the backfilling of mined pits, topsoil conservation, and the preservation of local seed sources, emerge from the literature as crucial for the timely and effective restoration of gold mines.However, because the severity of ecological degradation varies greatly within and between individual mines, and given the relatively small number (n = 42) of published tropical field studies found in our literature review, we highlight a clear need for continued research and development of restoration strategies specific to ecological conditions of former gold mines in the tropics.

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Heavy Metal Enrichment Factors in Fluvial Sediments of an Amazonian Basin Impacted by Gold Mining

Mora

Jumbo-Flores

González-Merizalde

et al. 2019

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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Is mercury from small-scale gold mining prevalent in the southeastern Peruvian Amazon?

Cited by 62 publications

References 48 publications

Mercury Contamination in Riverine Sediments and Fish Associated with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru

Mercury Contamination in Riverine Sediments and Fish Associated with Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining in Madre de Dios, Peru

Tropical surface gold mining: A review of ecological impacts and restoration strategies

Heavy Metal Enrichment Factors in Fluvial Sediments of an Amazonian Basin Impacted by Gold Mining

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