Heavy Metals in Tissues of Blue Crabs Callinectes danae from a Subtropical Protected Estuary Influenced by Mining Residues

Abstract Potentially toxic metals and metalloids present in mining residues can affect ecosystems, particularly plant growth and development. In this study we evaluated As and heavy metal (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb) contents in maize (Zea mays L) plants grown in soils collected near (40 m), at intermediate (400 m) and remote (3000 m) distances from mine tailings near Taxco City, Mexico. Soils sampled near and at intermediate sites from the tailings contained high levels of heavy metals which were 3- to 55-fold higher compared to the control samples. The heavy metal and As content in plants reflected the soil contamination being the greatest for most studied elements in root samples followed by stems, leaves, and kernels. Though plants were capable of completing their life cycle and producing the seeds, high bioaccumulation levels had a strong impact on plant development. Abnormalities in the organs like malformations in reproductive structures (tassel and ear), reduction in the phytomer number and the plant height were present. Microscopic studies and morphometric analyses suggest that strongly affected plant growth result from negative and synergistic action of heavy metals and As in soils on cell growth and cell production. This study showed that maize grown near mine tailings accumulates high levels of heavy metals and As which decrease significantly plant yield and could be dangerous if consumed by animals and humans.

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Characterization of mine tailings in their natural state and stabilized with cement, focused on construction

Ingeniería Investigación y Tecnología ◽

10.22201/fi.25940732e.2021.22.2.010 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Maureen Ixchel Ramos Hernández ◽

María de la Luz Pérez Rea

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Mine Tailings ◽

Ph Value ◽

Construction Material ◽

Silty Sand ◽

Natural State ◽

Hydraulic Concrete ◽

Fine Aggregates ◽

Mining Residues

This work presents the physical-chemical, geotechnical and mechanical characterization of a sample of mine tailings from the state of Zacatecas, Mexico with the objective of evaluating their possible use as a construction material for pavement support layers or as an aggregate of a hydraulic concrete. The material analyzed was classified as a poorly graded silty sand (SP-SM) according to the SUCS classification and is composed mainly of quartz and calcite. The analyzed sample satisfies the necessary requirements, according to current Mexican regulations, to be used as i) a subgrade layer in a pavement, without the addition of virgin aggregates, or ii) as fine aggregates in the production of hydraulic concrete, previously sieved to correct its grain-size distribution. The mining residues studied do not require stabilization because the material transported in the leaching process is below the permissible limits for heavy metals according to Mexican regulations; this may be caused by the neutral pH of the sample, demonstrating a high adsorption of the heavy metals that avoids potential leaching. However, the sample was stabilized with Portland cement with 3 and 5% respectively to corroborate the decrease in heavy metal transport based on the consulted bibliography; the concentrations of the analyzed elements decreased except for chrome due to its presence in the stabilizing material and an increase in the pH value was observed.

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Reduction of Heavy-Metal Content in Overburden Material by Bacterial Action

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.71-73.653 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 71-73 ◽

pp. 653-656 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Ianeya Hernández Díaz ◽

Federico Galizia ◽

Orquidea Coto Pérez ◽

Edgardo R. Donati

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Sulphuric Acid ◽

Culture Conditions ◽

Low Grade ◽

Acidithiobacillus Thiooxidans ◽

Nickel Extraction ◽

Valuable Metals ◽

Bacterial Action ◽

Overburden Material ◽

Mining Residues

In previous studies it has been showed that bacterially produced sulphuric acid is a good leaching agent for laterite tailings. In this work we evaluated heavy metals leaching from low grade laterite ore for cobalt and nickel extraction using sulphuric acid produced in situ by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans under different culture conditions. In studies where that material was initially added to the cultures, considerable percentages of metals were leached (100 % Mn, 70 % Co, 7.5 % Ni, less than 5 % of Cr and Fe) after 18 days of incubation at low pulp densities (1 % and 2.5 %) of overburden. The maximum percentages were reached when cultures pH was approximately or below than 1.5. At higher pulp densities material was added to the cultures after different pre-cultivating times; also higher sulphur amounts were assayed; in such way about 100 % Mn, 60 % Co, 9 % Ni and Fe and 2.5 % Cr were leached. Although toxic metals were not completely leached, sequential extractions results indicate that these metals are not readily available. All studies finally suggest that bioleaching is a suitable technology for recovery of valuable metals as Co and remediation of mining residues by extraction of heavy metals.

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Speciation of Heavy Metals in the Soil and the Mining Residues, in the Zinclead Sidi Bou Othmane Abandoned Mine in Marrakech Area

Linnaeus Eco-Tech ◽

10.15626/eco-tech.2010.102 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 975-985

Author(s):

Mouhsine Esshaimi ◽

Abdelhay El Gharmali ◽

Fatima Berkhis ◽

Manuel Valiente ◽

Laila Mandi

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Matter Content ◽

Abandoned Mines ◽

Abandoned Mine ◽

Carbonate Content ◽

High Concentration ◽

Total Acid ◽

Waste Dumps ◽

Mining Residues

Mining activity is one of the most important sources of Heavy metals in the environment. In Marrakech region, functioning or abandoned mines represent a great hazard due to huge amounts of waste deposited in waste dumps and tailings often with high concentration of heavy metals pollution. These mining sites located near Marrakesh contain mining residues abandoned for ten to twenty years. They are presently in an agricultural region of the Haouz district (Jbilets- Centrales). The present study was realized for the abandoned mine of Sidi Bou Othmane in order: i) -To determine the total content of heavy metal in soil and mining residues, ii)-To carry out the chemical speciation, of heavy metals in the mining residues and in the samples of soil collected in the vicinity of the mine. The pH, the electrical conductivity, Organic matter content and Total carbonate content in all the samples (soil and mining residues) were measured using the standards methods, heavy metals concentration was determined by atomic spectrophotometery. Therefore, a sequential extraction scheme according to the BCR’s (Community Bureau of Reference) guidelines and total acid digestion were applied to soil and mining residues samples. The results obtained showed that all the abandoned mines still containing very important quantities of solid waste, these sites can thus become potential sources of pollution by releasing heavy metals. In this concern, 4 polluting heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were detected with concentrations exceeding those admitted for agricultural soil. For all heavy metals, the most contaminated sites were found in the vicinity of the mines, probably linked to weathering effect, the wind and the topography.

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Resistance to and Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Actinobacteria Isolated from Abandoned Mining Areas

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1155/2015/761834 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Soraia El Baz ◽

Mohamed Baz ◽

Mustapha Barakate ◽

Lahcen Hassani ◽

Abdelhay El Gharmali ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Heavy Metal Resistance ◽

Chemical Precipitation ◽

Metal Resistance ◽

High Concentration ◽

Mining Areas ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Mining Residues ◽

Different Levels

Accumulation of high concentrations of heavy metals in environments can cause many human health risks and serious ecological problems. Nowadays, bioremediation using microorganisms is receiving much attention due to their good performance. The aim of this work is to investigate heavy metals resistance and bioaccumulation potential of actinobacteria strains isolated from some abandoned mining areas. Analysis of mining residues revealed that high concentration of zinc “Zn” was recorded in Sidi Bouatman, Arbar, and Bir Nhass mining residues. The highest concentration of lead “Pb” was found in Sidi Bouatman. Copper “Cu,” cadmium “Cd,” and chromium “Cr” were found with moderate and low concentrations. The resistance of 59 isolated actinobacteria to the five heavy metals was also determined. Using molecular identification 16S rRNA, these 27 isolates were found to belong toStreptomycesandAmycolatopsisgenera. The results showed different levels of heavy metal resistance; the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) recorded was 0.55 for Pb, 0.15 for Cr, and 0.10 mg·mL−1for both Zn and Cu. Chemical precipitation assay of heavy metals using hydrogen sulfide technic (H2S) revealed that only 27 isolates have a strong ability to accumulate Pb (up to 600 mg of Pb per g of biomass forStreptomycessp. BN3).

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Sampling and analysis of the air-water interface with SEM and EDS of microlayers

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100157000 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 1004-1005

Author(s):

Randall W. Smith ◽

John Dash

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Surface Microlayer ◽

Surface Films ◽

Water Interface ◽

Physical Processes ◽

Infrared Spectroscopic Analysis ◽

Eds Analysis ◽

Air Water Interface ◽

Significant Area ◽

Bulk Chemical

The structure of the air-water interface forms a boundary layer that involves biological ,chemical geological and physical processes in its formation. Freshwater and sea surface microlayers form at the air-water interface and include a diverse assemblage of organic matter, detritus, microorganisms, plankton and heavy metals. The sampling of microlayers and the examination of components is presently a significant area of study because of the input of anthropogenic materials and their accumulation at the air-water interface. The neustonic organisms present in this environment may be sensitive to the toxic components of these inputs. Hardy reports that over 20 different methods have been developed for sampling of microlayers, primarily for bulk chemical analysis. We report here the examination of microlayer films for the documentation of structure and composition.Baier and Gucinski reported the use of Langmuir-Blogett films obtained on germanium prisms for infrared spectroscopic analysis (IR-ATR) of components. The sampling of microlayers has been done by collecting fi1ms on glass plates and teflon drums, We found that microlayers could be collected on 11 mm glass cover slips by pulling a Langmuir-Blogett film from a surface microlayer. Comparative collections were made on methylcel1ulose filter pads. The films could be air-dried or preserved in Lugol's Iodine Several slicks or surface films were sampled in September, 1987 in Chesapeake Bay, Maryland and in August, 1988 in Sequim Bay, Washington, For glass coverslips the films were air-dried, mounted on SEM pegs, ringed with colloidal silver, and sputter coated with Au-Pd, The Langmuir-Blogett film technique maintained the structure of the microlayer intact for examination, SEM observation and EDS analysis were then used to determine organisms and relative concentrations of heavy metals, using a Link AN 10000 EDS system with an ISI SS40 SEM unit. Typical heavy microlayer films are shown in Figure 3.

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