Mercury Dispersal to Arroyo and Coastal Sediments from Abandoned Copper Mine Operations, El Boléo, Baja California

Kot, Fyodor S.; Shumilin, Evgueni; Figueroa, Griselda Margarita Rodríguez; Mirlean, Nicolai

doi:10.1007/s00128-008-9551-1

Cited by 6 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 16 publications

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“…Contamination by mercury (determined by cold vapor AAS) has also been detected around the biggest copper mines at El Boléo near Santa Rosalía. Dispersal mechanisms include runoff from weathered materials and sulfides oxidation followed by chloride and organic complex formation [51]. Willerer et al [52] have also determined mercury concentrations (analyzed by cold vapor AAS) in sediments collected from the Marabasco River, its estuary, and Laguna de Navidad, Colima, where Hg-ore deposits and mines constitute potential sources of this element.…”

Section: Fluvial Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Geochemistry Studies in Mexico

Armienta

2018

J. Mex. Chem. Soc.

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<p>This review presents environmental geochemistry studies developed in Mexico involving analytical chemistry applied to marine, lake, lagoon, dam, and fluvial sediments, soils, and groundwater over the past 15 years. The paper summarizes the objectives of the research, the analytical methods that were used, the methodologies applied for the interpretation of the results, and the primary findings for the areas and specific substrates that were studied. Although diverse analytical techniques were applied, atomic absorption spectrometry was the primary method of analysis, followed by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. Studies are widespread in the Mexican territory although some areas are still lacking in information; in addition, most of the country’s contamination problems have yet to be remediated.</p>

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Section: Fluvial Sedimentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Importance of Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Geochemistry Studies in Mexico

Armienta

2018

J. Mex. Chem. Soc.

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Mercury in the Atmospheric and Coastal Environments of Mexico

Ruelas-Inzunza¹,

Delgado-Alvarez

Frías-Espericueta

et al. 2013

Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Volume 226

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In Mexico, published studies relating to the occurrence of Hg in the environment are limited. Among the main sources of Hg in Mexico are mining and refining of Auand Hg, chloralkali plants, Cu smelting, residential combustion of wood, carbo electric plants, and oil refineries. Hg levels are highly variable in the atmospheric compartment because of the atmospheric dynamics and ongoing metal exchange with the terrestrial surface. In atmospheric studies, Hg levels are usually reported as total gaseous Hg (TGM). In Mexico, TGM values ranged from 1.32 ng m-3 in Hidalgo state (a rural agricultural area) to 71.82 ng m-3 in Zacatecas state (an area where brick manufacturers use mining wastes as a raw material).Published information on mercury levels in the coastal environment comprise 21 studies, representing 21 areas, in which sediments constituted the substrate that was analyzed for Hg. In addition, water samples were analyzed for Hg in nine studies.Few studies exist on Hg levels in the Caribbean and in the southwest of the country where tourism is rapidly increasing. Hence, there is a need for establishing baseline levels of mercury in these increasingly visited areas. In regions where studies have been undertaken, Hg levels in sediments were highly variable. Variations in Hg sediment levels mainly result from geological factors and the varying degree of anthropogenic impacts in the studied areas. In areas that still have pristine or nearly pristine environments (e.g., coast, Baja California, Todos Santos Bay, and La Paz lagoon), sediment Hg levels ranged from <0.006 to 0.35 j.lg g-1 on a dry wt basis.When higher levels exist (0.34-57.94 j.lg g-1 on a dry wt basis), the environment generally shows the influence of inputs from mining, oil processing, agriculture,geothermal events, or harmful algal bloom events (e.g., Guaymas Bay and Coatzacoalcos estuary). From chronological studies performed in selected coastal lagoons in NW Mexico, it is clear that Hg fluxes to sediments have increased from2- to 15-fold in recent years. Since the 1940s, historical increases of Hg fluxes have resulted from higher agricultural waste releases and exhaust from the thermo electric plants. The levels of Hg in water reveal a moderate to elevated contamination of some Mexican coastal sites. In Urias lagoon (NW Mexico), moderate to high levels were found in the dissolved and suspended fraction, and these are related to shipping, the fishing industry, domestic effluents, and the presence of a thermoelectric plant. In Coatzacoalcos (SE Mexico), extremely elevated Hg levels were found during the decade of the 1970s. Low to moderate levels of Hg were measured in waters from the Alvarado lagoon (SE Mexico); those concentrations appear to be associated with river waters that became enriched with organic matter and suspended solids inthe brackish mixing zone.Regarding the Hg content in invertebrates, the use of bivalves (oysters and mussels)as biomonitors must be established along the coastal zones of Mexico, because some coastal lagoons have not be...

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Arsenic and Mercury Contamination of Sediments of Geothermal Springs, Mangrove Lagoon and the Santispac Bight, Bahía Concepción, Baja California Peninsula

Leal-Acosta

Shumilin

Mirlean

et al. 2010

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol

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In order to find out the environmental impact on the coastal zone, the composition of sediments of the intertidal geothermal hot spring zone and adjacent area of Playa Santispac in the pristine Bahía Concepción (Baja California peninsula) was studied. High concentrations of As (13-111 mg kg⁻¹) and Hg (0.55-25.2 mg kg⁻¹) were found in the sediments of the geothermal sources. Arsenic and Hg concentrations decrease rapidly in the adjacent small mangrove lagoon sediments and reach background levels (0.7-2.6 mg kg⁻¹ and 6-60 μg kg⁻¹ respectively) in the marine sediments collected in front of Playa Santispac.

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Mercury Dispersal to Arroyo and Coastal Sediments from Abandoned Copper Mine Operations, El Boléo, Baja California

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

The Importance of Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Geochemistry Studies in Mexico

The Importance of Analytical Chemistry in Environmental Geochemistry Studies in Mexico

Mercury in the Atmospheric and Coastal Environments of Mexico

Arsenic and Mercury Contamination of Sediments of Geothermal Springs, Mangrove Lagoon and the Santispac Bight, Bahía Concepción, Baja California Peninsula

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