scholarly journals Pollution Assessment of Trace Elements in Agricultural Soils around Copper Mining Area

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4533 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianfeng Cheng ◽  
Jarmila Drozdova ◽  
Tomas Danek ◽  
Qianrui Huang ◽  
Wufu Qi ◽  
...  

Agricultural soils from Dongchuan copper mining area were sampled and analyzed to determine the concentrations of selected trace elements, namely As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn. The main objectives of this study were: (1) To determine the levels of trace elements and their spatial distribution in soils; (2) to evaluate the potential ecological risk; and (3) to identify the main sources of risk element pollution. The environmental risks were assessed using five different contamination and pollution indexes. Descriptive and exploratory statistical analyses were performed to identify the relations among the trace elements in soils and possible sources of pollution. Although the values of As, Cu and Zn in the soils were significantly higher than Yunnan background values and exceeded the limits of the Chinese national standards in several sampling points, the most serious threat for the ecosystem and human health was represented by Cd. The main sources of Cu and As were identified mining activities, airborne particulates from smelters and the weathering of tailings, and partly also agricultural fertilizers. The major source of Cd was agricultural fertilizers and partly sources associated with mining and smelting activities.

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Yuhu Luo ◽  
Qinxian Jia

The surface sediments of the Rongna River and the surface soils around the Tiegelongnan copper deposit were collected, and the heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, and Ni were measured for their concentrations and health risk assessment. When the Rongna River passed through the Cu deposit area, the concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Ni, and Hg in the surface sediments increased significantly, and the concentrations of Cu, Zn, and As exceeded the corresponding Grade II environmental quality standard. The heavy metals in the soil of the mining area were greater than the background value of the soil in Tibet. The geoaccumulation index indicated that the sediments of the river entering the mining area were very highly polluted by Cu and moderately polluted by Cd and Zn, and the soils in the mining area were moderately polluted by Cu. The potential ecological risk (PER) indices revealed that the sediments of the river entering the mining area had significantly high ecological risks, while the PER of the sediments away from the river section of the mining area was low, and the PER of the soils around the Cu deposit was moderate. The results of the health risk assessment indicated that the noncarcinogenic risks of heavy metals in sediments and soil of the mining area were within the acceptable range for adults and children. However, the carcinogenic risk of As and Cd in the sediment and As in the soil exceeds the relevant national standards, which may pose a certain risk to human health.


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqi Hu ◽  
Wenyong Wu ◽  
Di Xu ◽  
Honglu Liu

The rapid increase of reclaimed water irrigation on agricultural soils requires investigation of its impact on soil health. In this study, a simulation experiment for various lengths of long-term reclaimed water irrigation time (98, 196 and 236 years, respectively) was conducted in the southeast suburb of Beijing, China. Unirrigated soil served as the control. The environmental behavior of seven trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn) at different soil depths in 0–600 cm profiles was analyzed. Results showed that the 0–30 and 200–300 cm soil layers were more likely to accumulate trace elements under long-term reclaimed water irrigation, although the accumulation in the 0–600 cm profiles was not particularly obvious. Correlation analysis showed that the trace element concentrations and distribution were significantly related to clay fraction and organic matters (OM), whereas they were not related to redox potential (Eh). The potential ecological risk assessment showed that the long-term reclaimed water irrigation did not result in a significantly increased ecological risk. However, Cd and Hg were identified as the metals with the highest potential ecological risk in the study area and the trace element contents in the top 0–30 cm soil layer should be carefully monitored. Future studies are required to clarify the environmental risks of trace elements under long-term reclaimed water irrigation as they might slowly accumulate in soil with time.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-96
Author(s):  
Hameed Alsamadany ◽  
Hassan S. Al-Zahrani ◽  
El-Metwally M. Selim ◽  
Mohsen M. El-Sherbiny

AbstractTo assess trace element concentrations (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni) in the mangrove swamps along the Saudi coast of the Arabian Gulf, thirteen samples of surface sediment and leaves of grey mangrove, Avicennia marina were collected and analyzed. The detected trace element contents (μg g-1) in surface sediments were in the following descending order according to their mean values; Cr (49.18) > Zn (48.48) > Cu (43.06) > Pb (26.61) > Ni (22.88) > Cd (3.21). The results showed that the average concentrations of Cd and Pb exceeded their world average concentration of shale. The geo-accumulation, potential ecological risk and toxicity response indices demonstrated that trace elements have posed a considerable ecological risk, especially Cd. The inter-relationships between physico-chemical characters and trace elements suggests that grained particles of mud represent a noteworthy character in the distribution of trace elements compared to organic materials. Moreover, the results revealed that Zn was clearly bioaccumulated in leaf tissues A. marina. Dredging, landfilling, sewage effluents and oil pollution can be the paramount sources of pollution in the area under investigation.


2000 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 963-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jahiruddin ◽  
H. Harada ◽  
T. Hatanaka ◽  
M.R. Islam

Author(s):  
Jamel Ayari ◽  
Maurizio Barbieri ◽  
Yannick Agnan ◽  
Ahmed Sellami ◽  
Ahmed Braham ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-quality and accurate environmental investigations are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. A combination of environmental geochemical indices, multivariate analyses and geographic information system approach was successfully used to assess contamination status and source apportionment of trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn) in surface stream sediments from the Oued Rarai basin in north-western Tunisia, containing various metal and metalloid ores. The contamination level reported in this study indicates a non-negligible potential ecological risk, mainly related to sediment transport along the river. Antimony (concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 297 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), arsenic (from 0.5 to 1490 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), lead (from 2.9 to 5150 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) mercury (from 0.05 to 54.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) and silver (from 0.05 to 9.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) showed the most crucial contamination. Besides, potential ecological risk index values were maximum for arsenic with a median of 302, indicating a very high to serious ecological risk (> 160). Results from correlation analysis and principal component analysis revealed three main geochemical associations related to lithologic, tectonic and anthropogenic sources. V, Cr and Cu mainly originated from natural bedrock and soil. Ag and Cd were more controlled by both natural and mining enrichments. Mercury and Pb were mostly influenced by the ancient ore-related activities at the Oued Rarai site and north-east–south-west trending faults. Finally, Sb, As, Ni and Zn were largely controlled by the siliciclastic continental Neogene sequences. Finally, the physical and chemical dynamics of the watershed system, lithological properties, mineralisation, tectonic settings and mobilisation of subsurface sediments largely controlled both concentrations and spatial patterns of trace elements in the study basin. These results need to be considered in the strategies of suitable environmental management at former and current mining sites in north-western Tunisia.


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