Metals in water. Determining natural background concentrations in mineralized areas

Runnells, Donald D.; Shepherd, Thomas A.; Angino, Ernest E.

doi:10.1021/es00036a001

Cited by 122 publications

(61 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(6 reference statements)

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“…In the present study, the pH value shows slightly alkaline (pH 7.18±0.07 to 8.18±0. 19). These values are within the permissible limit of WHO [25] and FAO [28] set for drinking and irrigation purposes, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 53%

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Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of Tsaeda Agam River in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia

Mezgebe¹,

Gebrekidan²,

Hadera³

et al. 2015

Bull. Chem. Soc. Eth.

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ABSTRACT. The present work was conducted to assess the physico-chemical parameters of Tsada Agam River found in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia and determine its suitability for domestic and irrigation purposes. Water samples were collected monthly for two consecutive months (February to March, 2013) at four sampling sites and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. The study indicated that the mean value of studied parameters, except electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, total alkalinity, calcium ion, sulphate ion, and total phosphorus of the river water samples were within the permissible limit of WHO for drinking water. The findings also showed the mean value of studied parameters, except sulphate ion concentration, were within the permissible limit of FAO for irrigation water. Therefore, the river water was found to be unfit for human consumption and was found to be safe and utilizable for irrigation purposes. If the quality management was properly maintained, the Tsaeda Agam River water could be utilized for a wide range of applications such as drinking and irrigation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Assessments of general water quality and dissolved metals concentrations in aquatic ecosystems have been extensively conducted [15][16][17][18][19][20]. However, there are limited studies of water quality and pollution status of rivers in developing countries [5,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of Tsaeda Agam River in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia

Mezgebe¹,

Gebrekidan²,

Hadera³

et al. 2015

Bull. Chem. Soc. Eth.

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“…Furthermore, low pH facilitates metal solubilization, particularly that of cationic metals; therefore, acidic water tends to be highly metalliferous (24). Pyrite oxidation and ferrous iron oxidation are both processes that occur naturally, and indeed, natural acidic drainage has been identified in many locations (44). Mining in these areas is known to dramatically increase the ferrous iron oxidation rates (39).…”

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confidence: 99%

Microbial Diversity in Anaerobic Sediments at Río Tinto, a Naturally Acidic Environment with a High Heavy Metal Content

Sánchez‐Andrea

Rodríguez

Amils

et al. 2011

Appl Environ Microbiol

178

126

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The Tinto River is an extreme environment located at the core of the Iberian Pyritic Belt (IPB). It is an unusual ecosystem due to its size (100 km long), constant acidic pH (mean pH, 2.3), and high concentration of heavy metals, iron, and sulfate in its waters, characteristics that make the Tinto River Basin comparable to acidic mine drainage (AMD) systems. In this paper we present an extensive survey of the Tinto River sediment microbiota using two culture-independent approaches: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and cloning of 16S rRNA genes. The taxonomic affiliation of the Bacteria showed a high degree of biodiversity, falling into 5 different phyla: Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria; meanwhile, all the Archaea were affiliated with the order Thermoplasmatales. Microorganisms involved in the iron (Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Sulfobacillus spp., Ferroplasma spp., etc.), sulfur (Desulfurella spp., Desulfosporosinus spp., Thermodesulfobium spp., etc.), and carbon (Acidiphilium spp., Bacillus spp., Clostridium spp., Acidobacterium spp., etc.) cycles were identified, and their distribution was correlated with physicochemical parameters of the sediments. Ferric iron was the main electron acceptor for the oxidation of organic matter in the most acid and oxidizing layers, so acidophilic facultative Fe(III)-reducing bacteria appeared widely in the clone libraries. With increasing pH, the solubility of iron decreases and sulfate-reducing bacteria become dominant, with the ecological role of methanogens being insignificant. Considering the identified microorganisms-which, according to the rarefaction curves and Good's coverage values, cover almost all of the diversity-and their corresponding metabolism, we suggest a model of the iron, sulfur, and organic matter cycles in AMD-related sediments.

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“…Calculation of geochemical background in historical mining districts is especially challenging because of highly variable metal(loid) concentrations in surficial materials and the influence of past industrial activities (Runnells et al 1992;Helgen and Moore 1996;Nordstrom 2015). In mineralized areas, it is common for the naturally occurring concentrations of metal(loid)s in soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water to exceed generic environmental quality guidelines.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Establishing geochemical baselines in forest soils for environmental risk assessment in the Montague and Goldenville gold districts, Nova Scotia, Canada

Parsons

Little

2015

atgeol

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Mine tailings at historical gold districts in Nova Scotia, Canada, contain high concentrations of arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg), which may represent a risk to ecosystems and human health. Two sites, Montague and Goldenville, are of particular concern as tailings are located close to residences and are occasionally used for racing off-road vehicles. Risk-assessment calculations require knowledge of the naturally occurring concentrations of As and Hg in soils overlying mineralized bedrock within these gold districts. In this study, we collected samples of the top 0-5 cm of surface soil (the Public Health layer) from 46 sites near Montague, and 39 sites near Goldenville. Samples of individual soil horizons (H, Ae, B, and C) were also taken from selected sites to evaluate the vertical distribution of elements in the soil profile. Results show that the concentrations of As and Hg in all soil horizons are generally higher downice, southeasterly, of the ore zones in both districts, reflecting glacial erosion and transport of mineralized bedrock. Analysis of the top 0-5 cm of soils shows the following ranges in As and Hg concentrations (<2 mm size fraction): Montague: As, 4-273 mg/kg (median 42 mg/kg); Hg, 72-490 µg/kg (median 164 µg/kg); Goldenville: As, 2-140 mg/kg (median 13 mg/kg); Hg, 39-312 µg/kg (median 114 µg/kg). In general, the concentrations of As are highest in the B and C horizons, whereas Hg concentrations are highest in humus (H). Results from this study have been used to assess the distribution of tailings at these sites, and to help guide risk-management decisions.. RÉSUMÉLes résidus miniers des districts aurifères historiques de la Nouvelle-Écosse, au Canada, renferment des concentrations élevées d'arsenic (As) et de mercure (Hg), qui pourraient poser un risque pour les écosystèmes et la santé humaine. Deux endroits, Montague et Goldenville, suscitent des préoccupations particulières, car les secteurs de rési-dus se trouvent à proximité des résidences et sont occasionnellement utilisés pour des courses de véhicules hors route. Les calculs d' évaluation des risques nécessitent une connaissance des concentrations naturelles d' As et de Hg dans les sols recouvrant le substrat rocheux minéralisé de ces districts aurifères. Nous avons recueilli, dans le cadre de cette étude, des échantillons de la couche supérieure de 0 à 5 cm du sol de surface (couche déterminée par la Santé publique) de 46 emplacements près de Montague et de 39 emplacements près de Goldenville. Des échantillons d'horizons pédo-logiques distincts (H, Ae, B et C) ont également été prélevés en certains endroits pour l' évaluation de la distribution verticale des éléments à l'intérieur du profil pédologique. Les résultats révèlent que les concentrations d' As et de Hg dans tous les horizons pédologiques sont généralement plus élevées en aval-glaciaire, en direction sud-est, des zones minéralisées des deux districts, ce qui correspond à l' érosion et au transport glaciaires du substrat rocheux minéralisé. Une analyse des cinq centimètr...

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Metals in water. Determining natural background concentrations in mineralized areas

Cited by 122 publications

References 4 publications

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of Tsaeda Agam River in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia

Assessment of physico-chemical parameters of Tsaeda Agam River in Mekelle City, Tigray, Ethiopia

Microbial Diversity in Anaerobic Sediments at Río Tinto, a Naturally Acidic Environment with a High Heavy Metal Content

Establishing geochemical baselines in forest soils for environmental risk assessment in the Montague and Goldenville gold districts, Nova Scotia, Canada

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