Pb–Zn–Cd–As Pollution in Soils Affected by Mining Activities in Central and Southern Spain: A Scattered Legacy Posing Potential Environmental and Health Concerns

Lillo, Javier; Oyarzún, Roberto; Esbrí, José María; García-Lorenzo, Mari Luz; Higueras, Pablo

doi:10.1007/698_2014_278

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 47 publications

(12 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…These differences in the evolution of F1 and F2 in terms of Zn and Pb could be significant, especially given the contrasting behavior of these two elements due to the differences in their ionic potentials as Pb 2+ and Zn 2+ , i.e., extremely high for Zn and extremely low for Pb. As a consequence, Pb will remain close to the tailings, while Zn will move large distances from the tailings [ 53 ] in the river system. In the case of sediments, it is necessary to take into account the ionic stability of the studied elements (Zn and Pb).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the Speciation and Mobility of Pb, Zn and Cd in Relation to Transport Processes in a Mining Environment

Elmayel

Esbrí

García-Ordiales

et al. 2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Elements in mining extracts can be potentially toxic if they are incorporated into soils, sediments or biota. Numerous approaches have been used to assess this problem, and these include sequential extractions and selective extractions. These two methods have limitations and advantages, and their combined use usually provides a rough estimate of the availability or (bio)availability of potentially toxic elements and, therefore, of their real potential as toxicants in food chains. These indirect speciation data are interesting in absolute terms, but in the work described here, this aspect was developed further by assessing the evolution of availability-related speciation in relation to the transport processes from the emission source, which are mainly fluvial- and wind-driven. This objective was achieved by characterizing tailings samples as the source of elements in soils and sediments at increasing distances to investigate the evolution of certain elements. The standard procedures employed included a sequential five-step extraction and a selective extraction with ammonium acetate. The results show that the highest percentages of Zn and Pb in tailings, soils and sediment samples are associated with oxyhydroxides, along with a significant presence of resistant mineralogical forms. In the case of Cd, its association with organic matter is the second-most important trapping mechanism in the area. The physicochemical mechanisms of transport did not transform the main mineralogical associations (oxyhydroxides and resistant mineralogical forms) along the transects, but they produced a chaotic evolution pattern for the other minor matrix associations for Zn and a decrease in exchangeable and carbonate-bound forms for Pb in soils. Interestingly, in sediments, these mobile forms showed a decrease in Zn and a chaotic evolution for Pb. The most probable reason for these observations is that Zn2+ can form smithsonite (ZnCO3) or hydrozincite (Zn5(CO3)2(OH)6), which explains the retention of a carbonate-bound form for Zn in the soil transect. In contrast, Pb and Cd can appear as different mineral phases. The order of (bio)availability was Pb > Zn > Cd in tailings but Cd > Pb > Zn in soils. The physicochemical processes involved in transport from tailings to soils produce an increase in Cd (bio)availability. The trend is a decrease in bioavailability on moving away from the source (tailings), with maximum values obtained for Cd near to the source area (200–400 m).

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of the Speciation and Mobility of Pb, Zn and Cd in Relation to Transport Processes in a Mining Environment

Elmayel

Esbrí

García-Ordiales

et al. 2020

IJERPH

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Ecotoxic effect in Allium cepa due to sphalerite weathering arising in calcareous conditions

Ponce-Peña,

López-Ortega,

Anguiano-Vega

et al. 2024

Environ Geochem Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Does environmental risk really change in abandoned mining areas in the medium term when no control measures are taken?

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pb–Zn–Cd–As Pollution in Soils Affected by Mining Activities in Central and Southern Spain: A Scattered Legacy Posing Potential Environmental and Health Concerns

Abstract: In this chapter, published geochemical data for soils from several Pb-Zn jarosite and other soluble phases also play a relevant role in the studied soil-water

Cited by 3 publications

References 47 publications

Evolution of the Speciation and Mobility of Pb, Zn and Cd in Relation to Transport Processes in a Mining Environment

Evolution of the Speciation and Mobility of Pb, Zn and Cd in Relation to Transport Processes in a Mining Environment

Ecotoxic effect in Allium cepa due to sphalerite weathering arising in calcareous conditions

Does environmental risk really change in abandoned mining areas in the medium term when no control measures are taken?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About