Potentially harmful elements in soils and holm-oak trees ( Quercus ilex L.) growing in mining sites at the Valle de Alcudia Pb-Zn district (Spain)–Some clues on plant metal uptake

Higueras, Pablo; Esbrí, José María; García-Ordiales, Efrén; González-Corrochano, Beatríz; López-Berdonces, M. A.; García-Noguero, Eva María; Alonso-Azcárate, Jacinto; Martínez-Coronado, Alba

doi:10.1016/j.gexplo.2016.07.017

Cited by 23 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…In order to evaluate the (bio)available fraction suitable for plant uptake, two selective extraction methods were performed: extraction with ammonium acetate and extraction with H 2 SO 4 /HNO 3 (EPA method, synthetic precipitation leaching procedure) [ 43 ]. According to [ 45 ], these two methods seem to be the most effective for estimating the (bio) available fraction of PTEs.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The results of the H 2 SO 4 /HNO 3 extractions showed low-to-negligible contents of PTEs, and it can therefore be concluded that this extraction protocol is not suitable for the samples from the study area. The extractions with ammonium acetate (NH 4 Ac) were carried out at pH 4.75, and this method is considered to represent the exchangeable fraction [ 45 , 59 ]. At pH 4.75, the extract obtained has also been described as a fraction associated with the oxidizable mineralogical species present in the soil (e.g., organic matter and certain sulfides) [ 46 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The supernatant was filtered through fiberglass syringe filters with a pore size of 0.70 μm. This procedure gave the soluble fraction in an oxidizing acidic medium that is capable of simulating acid mine drainage conditions [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The extracts were filtered through Teflon syringe filters (Sygma Aldrich, St Louis, MO, USA) (0.45 µm pore size). The resulting extract was more related to oxidizable mineralogical species, such as the fraction bound to organic matter and some sulfides [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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

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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).

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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

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“…Previous environmental studies in the area [9][10][11][12], mainly described the inorganic compartments of the local environment; the present study is the first including the biological effects of the soil pollution.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Technosols by Tailings Derived from Pb–Zn–Ag Mining Activities at San Quintín (Ciudad Real, Spain): Some Insights into the Importance of Integral Studies to Evaluate Metal Contamination Pollution Hazards

et al. 2019

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This work presents an integral methodological approach to assess the environmental potential hazards posed by metals and metalloids hosted by spolic technosols derived from old tailings from a mining operation for galena (PbS, with high Ag contents)-sphalerite (ZnS, with a varied cohort of trace elements contents) in central Spain. We studied the total and soluble concentrations and spatial distribution of Pb, Zn, Cd, As, and Fe and the mineralogy of these soils, as well as an ecotoxicological evaluation by means of bioassays. The indices assessing soil contamination such as pollution load index (PI) and natural mobility index (NMI) have been calculated. Furthermore, the phytotoxic effect of the soil samples has been determined and a chronic sediment toxicity test using the benthic ostracod Heterocypris incongruens was applied. The geochemical study of 33 spolic technosols samples indicates large to extremely large metal and metalloid total contents: up to 48,600 mg kg−1 Pb, 34,000 mg kg−1 Zn, 500 mg kg−1 Cd, and 1000 mg kg−1 As. Given that sphalerite is usually the most important host mineral for cadmium in hydrothermal mineral deposits, there is a high correlation (R = 0.75) between this element and Zn. On the other hand, despite being two metallogenically intertwined elements in ore deposits, Pb and Zn show a less significant relationship, which can be attributed both to heterogeneities in the mineralogical composition of the veins, and to the complex history of the mineral concentration process: In the older process, the interest was only for Pb, meanwhile in the late period, the interest was focused in Zn. The Phytotoxkit® bioassay showed that soils with high PTEs presented very high toxicity, particularly the inhibition germination is related to Pb, As, and Cd content and root inhibition with Pb content. Both indexes were correlated with pH and electrical conductivity; samples with lower pH and higher soluble salt content are those with higher seed germination inhibition and root growth inhibition. On the other hand, the Ostracodtoxkit® bioassay showed very high sensitivity, with 100% mortality. The applied bioassays confirmed the soil toxicity and it is highly recommended to complement the results from environmental chemistry with results from bioassays, in order to provide a more complete and relevant information on the bioavailability of contaminants and to characterize the risk of contaminated areas.

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Heavy Metals Distribution in Soils of an Agricultural Area Impacted by Former Mining Activities: Case of Trozza Mine, Tunisia

Elmayel

Higueras

Bouzid

et al. 2018

Recent Advances in Geo-Environmental Engineering, Geomechanics and Geotechnics, and Geohazards

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Potentially harmful elements in soils and holm-oak trees ( Quercus ilex L.) growing in mining sites at the Valle de Alcudia Pb-Zn district (Spain)–Some clues on plant metal uptake

Cited by 23 publications

References 58 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

Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Technosols by Tailings Derived from Pb–Zn–Ag Mining Activities at San Quintín (Ciudad Real, Spain): Some Insights into the Importance of Integral Studies to Evaluate Metal Contamination Pollution Hazards

Heavy Metals Distribution in Soils of an Agricultural Area Impacted by Former Mining Activities: Case of Trozza Mine, Tunisia

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