Assessment of arsenic and mercury contamination in the Tisa River sediments and industrial canal sediments (Danube alluvial formation), Serbia

This study focused on the total mercury and methylmercury content in the muscle of chub (Leuciscus cephalusL.), the total mercury in the river sediments and the evaluation of health risks associated with fish contamination. Chub were caught at seven localities on the Svratka and Svitava rivers in the agglomeration of Brno in 2008. The results were compared to those obtained from the same sites in 2007. Total mercury was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry using an AMA 245 analyzer, and methylmercury was determined by gas chromatography (using an electron-capture detector) after acid digestion and toluene extraction in chub muscle. The highest concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury (0.12 ± 0.14 and 0.07 ± 0.02 mg·kg-1fresh weight, respectively) were found in Svratka before junction (south of Brno), whereas the lowest concentration of mercury and methylmercury in chub (0.06 ± 0.01 and 0.04 ± 0.01 mg·kg-1) was detected in Svitava before junction with the Svratka River. Total mercury in sediments ranged from 0.01 to 1.05 mg·kg-1dry weight, the highest value was detected in the sediment from Rajhradice. The lowest content (0.01 mg·kg-1) was at Kníničky. Hazard indices calculated for the selected localities showed no health risk for either a standard consumer or a fishing family. Fish from the Svitava and Svratka rivers show very low mercury concentration and hazard index and their consumption poses no health risk from total mercury and methylmercury contamination.

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The potential use of Octolasmis spp. parasites in mud crabs Scylla spp. as a bioindicator for mercury pollution

Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity ◽

10.13057/biodiv/d220921 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Indriyani Nur ◽

ERICK ARJUNA ARIS ◽

YUSNAINI YUSNAINI ◽

SARA BEAVIS

Keyword(s):

Bioconcentration Factor ◽

River Sediments ◽

Gill Tissue ◽

Mercury Pollution ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

The Mean ◽

Potential Use ◽

Host Tissues ◽

Mud Crabs

Abstract. Nur I, Aris EA, Yusnaini Y, Beavis S. 2021. The potential use of Octolasmis spp. parasites in mud crabs Scylla spp. as a bioindicator for mercury pollution. Biodiversitas 22: 3764-3772. Artisanal small-scale gold mining and the use of mercury is widespread across Indonesia, often characterized by relatively short-lived gold rushes. In the late and post-mining phases, mercury stored in mine tailings and river beds was transported down catchment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health over much longer time scales. These risks can be under-rated when mercury concentrations in water, sediments, and aquatic species are low enough to meet relevant guideline thresholds. In this study in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, we have investigated the Costraca barnacle, Octolasmis, as a bioindicator of mercury contamination. The presence of Octolasmis parasites in mud crabs, Scylla spp., and the accumulation of mercury (Hg) in the hosts, parasites, and the ambient environment, were analyzed across both dry and wet seasons. Severe infestation of Octolasmis was assessed using prevalence, abundance, and intensity. Hg concentrations were significantly higher in the Octolasmis parasites than in the host tissues, water and sediments. The mean bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Hg equaled 7938.21 from water to parasites, and 28.91 from the host’s gill tissue to the parasites. The results suggest that Octolasmis spp. can be used effectively as a bioindicator in coastal catchments impacted by mercury contamination, even when concentrations of mercury are low in water and river sediments. The study provides the first report of Octolasmis spp. parasitized to mud crabs as a reliable bioindicator of Hg contamination and pollution.

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Characterization of potential mercury contamination in the ASGM area of Mandailing Natal, North Sumatera

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/882/1/012062 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 882 (1) ◽

pp. 012062

Author(s):

H Astika ◽

S Handayani ◽

R Damayanti ◽

W Surono ◽

Maryono ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Sediments ◽

Ecological Impacts ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gold Extraction ◽

Grab Sampling ◽

The North ◽

Soils And Sediments ◽

Area Sampling

Abstract A large amount of Hg is used for gold extraction through the amalgamation process in the Mandailing Natal derived from artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) area located in the North Sumatera Province, Indonesia. The objective of this work was to characterize the potential contamination of total Hg in water, sediments, and soil in this ASGM area. Sampling was done in two locations in West Panyabungan and Huta Bargot Districts using grab sampling method. Results showed that accumulation of Hg in the studied soils and sediments was the highest, but Hg in aquatic solution was below the detection limit of the analytical method of the studied community wells and rivers. The highest concentration of Hg was found in the river sediments of the Saba Padang irrigation (1,63 mg/kg), and in the soil of the plantation area of Huta Bargot (1,62 mg/kg) respectively. These concentrations may pose a serious problem for aquatic and land life, related ecosystems, and human health. For further study, there is a need to study Hg availability in riverine biota to better understand the cycling of Hg in this ASGM area. Understanding the ecological impacts can assist in the prioritizing of impact mitigation efforts.

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Total Mercury in Soils and Sediments in the Vicinity of Abandoned Mercury Mine Area in Puerto Princesa City, Philippines

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10134599 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 4599 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jessie Samaniego ◽

Cris Reven Gibaga ◽

Alexandria Tanciongco ◽

Rasty Rastrullo

Keyword(s):

Marine Sediments ◽

Mine Waste ◽

River Sediments ◽

Recovery Process ◽

The Philippines ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Mine Area ◽

Soils And Sediments ◽

Total Hg ◽

Low Efficiency

The abandoned mercury (Hg) mine area in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan was included in the list of abandoned and inactive mines in the Philippines which pose a high risk to human health and the environment, and require rehabilitation. The mine site, operated by Palawan Quicksilver Mines, Inc. (PQMI) from 1953 to 1976, is located approximately 3 km inland from Honda Bay coast and within the catchment of the Tagburos River, which is a local fishery and recreational area. In this study, total Hg levels in soils and sediments were measured to assess the possible release of Hg from the site into the surrounding natural environment. Results showed that total Hg (THg) concentrations found in soils (0.04–67.5 mg kg−1), mine waste calcines (52.7–924.2 mg kg−1), river sediments (1.8–119 mg kg−1), and marine sediments (0.04–12.7 mg kg−1) were elevated compared to the global background of 0.045–0.16 mg kg−1. The high concentrations of Hg in soils and river sediments were influenced by the different pathways for the release of Hg from its mine operations; while Hg in marine sediments was caused by the erosion of mine waste calcines near the pit lake, and calcines used to construct a wharf at the nearby Honda Bay. Mine wastes represent the largest source of Hg contamination in the area, due to the low efficiency of the recovery process during calcination. This work corresponds with the Minamata Convention on Mercury on the updated environmental assessments of abandoned Hg mines as potential source sites of mercury contamination.

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Geospatial Estimation of Mercury Contamination in Buffalo River Sediments

Soil and Sediment Contamination An International Journal ◽

10.1080/15320383.2013.750266 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 22 (5) ◽

pp. 521-531 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K. Wayne Forsythe ◽

Adrian Gawedzki ◽

Peter Rodriguez ◽

Kimberly N. Irvine ◽

Mary Perrelli

Keyword(s):

River Sediments ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Buffalo River

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Mercury toxicity potential from artisanal and small scale gold mines in Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province

E3S Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/e3sconf/20187306002 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 06002

Author(s):

Munawar Ali ◽

Suhartoyo Hery ◽

Suci Asriani Putri

Keyword(s):

Total Mercury ◽

River Sediments ◽

Aquatic Organisms ◽

Analysis Data ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Small Scale ◽

Gold Mines ◽

Mercury Analysis ◽

Toxicity Potential ◽

Streambed Sediments

Artisanal and small scale gold mining (ASGM) is considered as the largest source of mercury pollution worldwide. The ASGM has been practiced for years in the area of Lebong Regency of Bengkulu Province. To extract gold from the ores, miners use a simple technique called Gelondong. This practice involves amalgamation process which forms amalgam, a mixure composed of mercury and gold. These amalgamation generates liquid and solid wastes (tailings) which still contain significant amount of mercury. Consequently, ASGM activities can potentially create mercury contamination of the environment, especially aquatic ecosystems. This study was aimed to investigate the concentration and distribution of total mercury in rivers to which wastes from ASGM communities in three villages of North Lebong District were dumped. Water and streambed sediments along the rivers were collected and brought to the laboratory for total mercury analysis. Data showed that total mercury was not detected in the river water but high in the river sediments with high variations among lactions from 0.11 to 110.37 mg kg-1. Apparently, total mercury tended to decrease with the distance from it source. High amounts of mercury in the river sediments could potentially spread to wider area and cause bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, especially fish which can be dangerous to consume.

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Characterization of the potential mercury contamination in the Apolobamba gold mining area, Bolivia .

Spanish Journal of Soil Science ◽

10.3232/sjss.2011.v1.n1.06 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 1 ◽

Author(s):

José A. Acosta ◽

Ángel Faz Cano ◽

María Ángeles Muñoz ◽

Ricardo Vera ◽

Silvia Martínez-Martínez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gold Mining ◽

River Sediments ◽

Mining Operation ◽

Mining Area ◽

Mercury Contamination ◽

Gold Extraction ◽

Aquatic Life ◽

La Paz ◽

Soils And Sediments

A large amount of Hg is used for gold extraction through the amalgamation process in the Apolobamba gold mining area located in the northwest part of La Paz, Bolivia. This mining operation may produce a very serious impact on the ecosystems, as well as on the health of miners and inhabitants, mainly due to the primitive methods used in the gold recovery. The objective of this work was to characterize the potential contamination of total Hg in soils, sediments, water, and plants in a mining area of Bolivia. Results showed that there was atmospheric deposition of Hg in the study area. Accumulation of this metal in the studied soils and sediments was one of the highest in the world, but Hg in aquatic solution was below the detection limit of the analytical method of the studied lakes and rivers. The highest concentration of Hg was found in the river sediments of the Sunchullí- Viscachani (102 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>), and in the sediments of Sunchullí and Viscachani lakes (12.3 and 11.7 mg kg<sup>-1</sup>, respectively). These concentrations may pose a serious problem for aquatic life, related ecosystems and human health. Therefore, there is a need to study Hg availability and speciation in soils and sediments to better understand the cycling of Hg in the area.

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