Environmental occurrence and impacts of arsenic at gold mining sites in the western United States

Straskraba, V.; Moran, Robert E.

doi:10.1007/bf02503691

Cited by 27 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…The contribution of metalliferous mining to elevated concentrations of heavy metals and metalloids including arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), uranium (U) and zinc (Zn) in the environment is widely reported [ 3 – 7 ]. Gold (Au) mining as a source of heavy metal contamination in soils has been documented in several countries including Korea [ 3 ], USA [ 4 ], Sultanate of Oman [ 6 ], Ghana [ 7 ], Canada [ 8 ] and South Africa [ 9 ]. Processing of ore bodies and disposal of mine tailings and wastewater rich in heavy metals and metalloids are the main origins of metal and metalloid release from Au mines [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and human health risks associated with abandoned gold mine tailings contaminated soil

2017

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Gold mining is a major source of metal and metalloid emissions into the environment. Studies were carried out in Krugersdorp, South Africa, to evaluate the ecological and human health risks associated with exposure to metals and metalloids in mine tailings contaminated soils. Concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) in soil samples from the area varied with the highest contamination factors (expressed as ratio of metal or metalloid concentration in the tailings contaminated soil to that of the control site) observed for As (3.5x102), Co (2.8x102) and Ni (1.1x102). Potential ecological risk index values for metals and metalloids determined from soil metal and metalloid concentrations and their respective risk factors were correspondingly highest for As (3.5x103) and Co (1.4x103), whereas Mn (0.6) presented the lowest ecological risk. Human health risk was assessed using Hazard Quotient (HQ), Chronic Hazard Index (CHI) and carcinogenic risk levels, where values of HQ > 1, CHI > 1 and carcinogenic risk values > 1×10−4 represent elevated risks. Values for HQ indicated high exposure-related risk for As (53.7), Cr (14.8), Ni (2.2), Zn (2.64) and Mn (1.67). Children were more at risk from heavy metal and metalloid exposure than adults. Cancer-related risks associated with metal and metalloid exposure among children were also higher than in adults with cancer risk values of 3×10−2 and 4×10−2 for As and Ni respectively among children, and 5×10−3 and 4×10−3 for As and Ni respectively among adults. There is significant potential ecological and human health risk associated with metal and metalloid exposure from contaminated soils around gold mine tailings dumps. This could be a potential contributing factor to a setback in the health of residents in informal settlements dominating this mining area as the immune systems of some of these residents are already compromised by high HIV prevalence.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and human health risks associated with abandoned gold mine tailings contaminated soil

2017

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“…As quickly adsorbs onto Fe (oxy)hydroxide and settles to the bottom of the surrounding ditch, decreasing the dissolved As (cf. Straskraba and Moran 2006). The difference between total and soluble As concentrations was negligible; the As occurs mainly in soluble form in ground and surface water.…”

Section: Arsenic Hydrogeochemistrymentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Straskraba and Moran 2006). Also, the As-Fe correlation increases with decreasing pH, due to the fact that when ferrous Fe oxidizes and hydrolyzes, the pH is decreased below 6 and As is less mobile and easily adsorbed by Fe (oxy)hydroxides (e.g.…”

Section: Contaminant Migration From Tailingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Controlling the Migration of Tailings-Derived Arsenic: A Case Study at the Yara Siilinjärvi Site

et al. 2016

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The behaviour of arsenic (As) derived from tailings was investigated at the Yara Siilinjärvi apatite mine and industrial site in eastern Finland. The study assessed factors influencing the migration and fate of As and compared the anthropogenic As load to the natural geogenic background. Environmental risks related to As were assessed by examining the As concentrations in humus, glacial till, aquatic sediments, groundwater, and surface water. The occurrence and fractionation of As and the presence of secondary precipitates and geochemical transformations in the tailings and in the ambient soil and sediment were evaluated by selective extraction. The water-derived emissions were evaluated by field measurements, hydrogeochemical analysis, and modelling. Results indicate elevated environmental risks due to dust and seepage emissions from the tailings since the concentrations and mobility of As and other potentially harmful elements (PHEs) such as Co, Ni, and Zn were elevated relative to the geogenic background. These elements were mainly associated with Fe (oxy)hydroxides in the soil and their mobility was closely linked to Fe biogeochemistry. Additionally, although the concentrations of As and PHEs were high in the tailings pond and seepage water, they decreased in ambient groundwater and surface water, indicating Fe (oxy)hydroxide stability. This was supported by hydrogeochemical modelling, which indicated precipitation of Fe oxides and hydroxides. According to speciation modelling, As was present mainly as toxic trivalent arsenious acid (H 3 AsO 3 ) in groundwater and as the less toxic pentavalent As acid (H 2 AsO 4 -and HAsO 4 2-) in surface water.

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“…The processing of gold bearing sulphide minerals which contain arsenopyrite and other complex arsenic sulphide minerals results in arsenic containing emissions and effluents which must be given careful consideration in relation to clean air and clean water standards. In fact, there are numerous cases at the global level where gold mining operations have caused a release and redistribution of arsenic into the environment [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arsenic Mobility in As-Containing Soils from Geogenic Origin: Fractionation and Leachability

Prieto

Cancelo-González

Barral

2018

Journal of Chemistry

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The lithogenic arsenic in soils of the Anllóns River basin (Spain) was quantified, its chemical fractions were determined, and its leachability characteristics were compared under various experimental conditions. Fifty soil samples of C horizons, sampling an area of 50 km 2 along the river course, were submitted to an exploratory analysis. Pseudo-total arsenic ranged between 2 and 489 mg kg −1 . Arsenic leachability using the standard methods DIN 38414-S4 and TCLP was less than 0.25% of pseudo-total As. Then the effect of pH (3, 6, and 9), solid : liquid (S : L) ratio (1 : 10 and 1 : 50), phosphate (10 mM), and contact time (24 and 240 h) on arsenic mobilization was studied in nine soils with the highest As concentration. Arsenic mobilization increased at alkaline pH and lower S : L ratio; the most decisive factor was the addition of phosphate, increasing arsenic leachability up to 1,000 times, and this increased even 2.3 times when the contact time was extended from 24 hours to 240 hours. The results suggest that the mobilization of arsenic may be underestimated in short-term water leaching tests and that the environmental conditions favouring arsenic mobilization should be taken into account for a sound evaluation of the transfer risk of arsenic towards aquatic ecosystems.

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Environmental occurrence and impacts of arsenic at gold mining sites in the western United States

Cited by 27 publications

References 3 publications

Ecological and human health risks associated with abandoned gold mine tailings contaminated soil

Ecological and human health risks associated with abandoned gold mine tailings contaminated soil

Factors Controlling the Migration of Tailings-Derived Arsenic: A Case Study at the Yara Siilinjärvi Site

Arsenic Mobility in As-Containing Soils from Geogenic Origin: Fractionation and Leachability

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