Heavy metal concentration in soil in the tailing dam vicinity of an old gold mine in Johannesburg, South Africa

Abstract

Soil contamination with heavy metals is a serious concern to food production and human health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of tailings from an old mining site on heavy metal contamination of soil. Using a GPS to map out different sites around the tailing dam, soil samples were taken from under grassland at the different sites, at depths of 15 cm and 1 m, using a shovel and handheld auger. The samples were prepared, acid digested, and analyzed for a multi-element suite by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Results showed heavy metal concentration in the order of Cr > Zn > As > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Sr > Hg. Most of the soil samples contained high concentration of As (13.46–234.6 mg kg−1). Soil concentrations of As, Hg, Cr, and Mn also decreased with distance from the dump material. Single contamination index of each pollutant, calculated according to the South African Soil Quality Standards revealed very high and medium pollution grades for As (index = 7.39) and Cr (index = 2.16), respectively. Arsenic is a metal associated with gold ore and soil pollution by such metals can make it infertile and unsuitable for plants.

Heavy Metal Contamination of Soil in Preschool Facilities around Industrial Operations, Kuils River, Cape Town (South Africa)

“…The average As levels (16 mg/kg) reported in this study are in the range reported in residential soil studies conducted in other parts of South Africa, such as Limpopo Province (0.2–25 mg/kg) [ 6 ] and the city of Johannesburg (0.1–65) [ 7 ]. On the other hand, the average Mn (137 mg/kg), Pb (30 mg/kg), Sr (176 mg/kg) and Zn (232 mg/kg) levels were much higher than the levels reported in mine tailings of Johannesburg; Mn (43 mg/kg), Pb (17 mg/kg), Sr (2 mg/kg) and Zn (49 mg/kg) [ 50 ]. Levels of Zn were also much higher in Kuils River than those observed in a Ugandan study, in which Namuhani et al [ 1 ] reported a mean concentration of 28 mg/kg around a steel mill in that country.…”

Gold Mine Tailings: A Potential Source of Silica Sand for Glass Making

“…The Gauteng province of South Africa is characterized by numerous mine tailing dumps which are a result of previously active mining activities. Several decades of mining activities in the Gauteng Province of South Africa has had and continues to have a negative impact on ecosystems through the pollution of soils and water with high levels of potentially toxic metals such as As, Pb, and Al, as is the case with the old gold mine tailings in Blesbokspruit, Ekurhuleni South Africa [6][7][8][9]. Previous studies have reported cases of health-related complications among dwellers who reside nearer to these mine tailing sites as a result of the contamination of agricultural soils, water sources, and atmospheric air by these mine tailings and effluents [10][11][12][13][14][15][16].…”

Evaluation of heavy metal contamination in copper mine tailing soils of Kitwe and Mufulira, Zambia, for reclamation prospects

“…In the Copperbelt Province of Zambia, decommissioned mine tailings have resulted in extensive mine waste dumpsites that are contaminating water and soils, especially in Kitwe and Mufulira districts. Therefore, there is serious concern over the adverse effect of mine waste on the ecosystem, biodiversity, and health of people residing in the vicinity of these mine waste dumpsites 1 , 16 – 18 . Previous studies investigated the level of heavy metal pollution in soil, plants, and water and their probable impact on the environment in the Copperbelt Province 17 , 19 – 22 .…”