Leaching Mechanism and Health Risk Assessment of As and Sb in Tailings of Typical Antimony Mines: A Case Study in Yunnan and Guizhou Province, Southwest China

Abstract

The weathering and leaching of mining tailings have released large amounts of antimony (Sb) and arsenic (As), causing serious pollution in the surrounding soil, water, and sediments. To understand the leaching characteristics of Sb and As in mining tailings, Zuoxiguo and Qinglong mining tailings were collected for analysis. The average content of Sb in Zuoxiguo and Qinglong tailings was 5902.77 mg/kg and 1426.43 mg/kg, respectively, while that of As was 412.53 mg/kg and 405.26 mg/kg, respectively, which exceeded the local background value. Furthermore, the concentrations of Sb in the leachate of Zuoxiguo and Qinglong increased with time; the average Sb concentration in the leachate of Zuoxiguo and Qinglong was 1470.48 μg/L and 70.20 μg/L, respectively, while that of the As concentration was 31.20 μg/L and 6.45 μg/L, respectively. This suggests that the concentrations of Sb and As in the leachate of Zuoxiguo are both higher than those in the leachate of Qinglong and that the pH of the leachate of Zuoxiguo and Qinglong significantly changed within the first day under different initial pH conditions, and tended to be between 6 and 8, after one day. The results of the average health risk index showed that As in the leachate from Zuoxiguo and Qinglong for children was 5.67 × 10−4 and 9.13 × 10−5, respectively, and 4.43 × 10−4 and 7.16 × 10−5, respectively, for adults. As in the leachate from Zuoxiguo poses serious carcinogenic risks for residents, and in the study area, As poses a serious threat to human health. Therefore, the local government must manage As in these areas.

Risk Assessment and Risk Reduction of Ptaquiloside in Bracken Fern

“…Plants contain various substances, including toxic compounds [ 36 , 37 , 38 ], and risk assessment of these substances is considered important for risk management [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 ]. The present study is the first to conduct non-cancer and cancer risk assessments of PTA in BF.…”

Evaluation of the Geogenic-Effected Groundwater Antimony Pollution, in the Settlement Area, Utilizing the Water Quality Index and Health Risk Assessments: A Case Study from Kiraz Basin, İzmir, Turkiye

“…Antimony, which enters the human body by any means (skin, respiratory, and oral), is specially collected in the lungs, stomach, and intestines . The acute or chronic effects of antimony are mainly stomach cramps, stomach pains, vomiting, skin rash, and wounds . However, the most striking effect of antimony compounds is that they disrupt the heart rhythm and cause irreparable damage to the nervous system.…”

“…62 The acute or chronic effects of antimony are mainly stomach cramps, stomach pains, vomiting, skin rash, and wounds. 63 However, the most striking effect of antimony compounds is that they disrupt the heart rhythm and cause irreparable damage to the nervous system. The effect of antimony on cancer has not been observed in studies so far.…”

Remediation of Cadmium and Lead in Mine Soil by Ameliorants and Its Impact on Maize (Zea mays L.) Cultivation

“…These heavy metals mainly accumulate in the surface layer of farmland and are easily absorbed by crops [6]. Furthermore, under rainfall conditions, Cd and Pb can be lost through surface runoff and subsurface flows, which are important pathways for the migration of Cd and Pb from agricultural soils to surrounding environments [7].…”