Profiles and Sources of PAHs in Sediments from an Open-Pit Mining Area in the Peruvian Andes

Abstract

The Peruvian Andes are one of the most productive areas for mining and therefore also one of the most exposed to these sources of pollution. This article reports the characterization of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments of Cerro de Pasco area (Peru) located close to a large open-pit mine and, in recent years, several reports have provided evidence of environmental contamination and related health problems. Investigations were carried out into the fifteen PAHs identified by the US-Environment Protection Agency (US-EPA) as requiring priority monitoring, other non US-EPA listed PAHs and perylene were also investigated in order to obtain further information on their origins. By considering the results of all the analysis, the total PAHs concentration varies from 13–1009 μg/Kg with a mean value of 224 μg/Kg. The concentrations of PAHs found in all 12 stations were lower than the effect range low (ERL). PAHs, in the most of the samples, have origin from high temperature processes. Taking into consideration that perylene concentrations were low, a small quantity of polycyclic hydrocarbons may be originated from biological activity

Analysis of water contamination in the mining zone of Cerro de Pasco, Peru using the grey clustering method

“…Finally, the points with the greatest contamination in water (A3) are closely related with mining activity and waste disposal, which is in good agreement with the conclusions of Bianchini et al [10] and Orecchio et al [11], as point 2 is located near to the mining company Atacochaas well as point 6 is near the Rumillana dump.…”

“…The results showed that high concentrations of Al, Mn and Pb were present in the water near the mines, and in consequence, in drinking water within the zone. Another research considered was Orecchio et al [11]in which Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed and measured in relation to their toxicity to organisms, animals and, in consequence,to human health. All samples were collected in the same stations of the previous study.…”

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Water, Soils and Surface Sediments of the Msunduzi River

“…This is a good indication that the PAHs in the sediments are derived from pyrolytic sources rather than from leakage of petroleum derived fuels and lubricants from urban off. Similar source apportionments were reported for mangrove sediments, North Persian Gulf [44] and open-pit sediments from a mining area at Cerro de Pasco, Andes [45].…”

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the soil profiles (0–100 cm) from the industrial district of a large open-pit coal mine, China

“…The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has highlighted 16 unsubstituted PAHs as priority pollutants that need monitoring. Numerous investigations found that PAHs are widely distributed in the environmental media such as sediments, 10 agriculture soil, 11 urban soil, 12 roadside soil, 13,14 industry-affected soil, 15,16 dump sites, 17 and mine-impacted soil. [18][19][20] Soil pollution in the coal mine area is mainly ascribed to coal exploitation, processing, and utilization.…”