Metal(Loid) Levels in Biological Matrices from Human Populations Exposed to Mining Contamination—Panasqueira Mine (Portugal)

Abstract

Mining activities may affect the health of miners and communities living near mining sites, and these health effects may persist even when the mine is abandoned. During mining processes various toxic wastes are produced and released into the surrounding environment, resulting in contamination of air, drinking water, rivers, plants, and soils. In a geochemical sampling campaign undertaken in the Panasqueira Mine area of central Portugal, an anomalous distribution of several metals and arsenic (As) was identified in various environmental media. Several potentially harmful elements, including As, cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se), were quantified in blood, urine, hair, and nails (toe and finger) from a group of individuals living near the Panasqueira Mine who were environmentally and occupationally exposed. A group with similar demographic characteristics without known exposure to mining activities was also compared. Genotoxicity was evaluated by means of T-cell receptor (TCR) mutation assay, and percentages of different lymphocyte subsets were selected as immunotoxicity biomarkers. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) analysis showed elevated levels of As, Cd, Cr, Mn, and Pb in all biological samples taken from populations living close to the mine compared to controls. Genotoxic and immunotoxic differences were also observed. The results provide evidence of an elevated potential risk to the health of populations, with environmental and occupational exposures resulting from mining activities. Further, the results emphasize the need to implement preventive measures, remediation, and rehabilitation plans for the region.

Genotoxic effect of exposure to metal(loid)s. A molecular epidemiology survey of populations living and working in Panasqueira mine area, Portugal

“…Present findings are also consistent with preliminary studies (Coelho et al, 2011;Coelho et al, 2012) pointing to increased genotoxic damage experienced by populations environmentally and occupationally exposed to metal(loid) contamination derived from the Panasqueira mine activities. To strengthen the absence of causal association between mine activities and this damage, the level of most biomarkers was quantitatively associated with the intensity of genotoxic exposure.…”

“…These findings were implemented by biomonitoring studies which found higher concentrations of metal(loid)s, such as As, Cr, Mn, Mo, Pb and Zn in the blood, urine, nails, and hair of people living near or working in the mine (Coelho et al, in press). Preliminary data showing increased genotoxic damage in these populations are also available (Coelho et al, 2011(Coelho et al, , 2012. The present study with a more robust design was aimed to evaluate the genotoxic damage caused by this contamination and the possible influence of a set of genetic polymorphisms.…”

“…The group environmentally exposed showed higher levels of metal(loid)s than the one occupationally exposed, with females presenting significantly higher concentrations of toxic substances than males. Preliminary studies performed in a smaller group of individuals living and working in the area revealed increased levels of MN and T-cell receptor mutations in exposed populations (Coelho et al, 2011(Coelho et al, , 2012.…”

Inoculation with Metal-Mobilizing Plant-Growth-Promoting RhizobacteriumBacillussp. SC2b and Its Role in Rhizoremediation

“…Approximately 2 × 10 7 ha of arable land in China has been contaminated with heavy metals such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) to various degrees, due to local mining and refinery activities (Li, 2005). Accumulation of heavy metals in soils and sediments not only affects soil fertility, crop yield, and quality of agriculture products, but also negatively impacts human and animal health by entering the food chain (Coelho et al, 2012;Dahshan et al, 2013;Figueiredo et al, 2014aFigueiredo et al, , 2014b.…”

Current research trends on arsenic toxicology

“…As far as exposure is concerned, the most important matter of current publications is drinking water pollution (Maity et al 2012;Deb et al 2012;Guha Mazumder et al 2012;Marchiset-Ferlay et al 2012;Chen et al 2012;Kumasaka et al 2013). Another contemporary issue coming into focus is environmental contamination from (former) mining activities (Coelho et al 2012;Li et al 2012;Chakraborti et al 2012) and from waste deposits (Moreno-Santini et al 2012).…”