Possibility to use soils from abandoned mining area for agricultural aims

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabina Rossini-Oliva ◽  
Erika S. Santos ◽  
Maria Manuela Abreu
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Mine Wastes ◽  
Total N ◽  
Accumulation Pattern

<p>In many countries is quite common that abandoned mines are close to agricultural areas and might be used for plant food cultivation or animal grazing. However, soils adjacent to mining areas and/or developed on mine wastes can be a source of potentially toxic elements (PTE) for plants. This might be a potentially risk for human and animal health needing to be monitored before taking a decision.</p><p>Ferragudo is an abandoned Fe–Mn mine located in SW of Portugal (Beja district) considered with intermediate level of environmental hazard impact due to small volumes of mine wastes with relatively low total concentrations of PTE, except for Mn. In this area holm oak woodland was implemented and soils are usually used for grassland. Animals such as cow, sheep and goat graze in this mining area. Chemical characterization of soil-plant system and potential human health risks of the plants associated with soil contamination were assessed. Samples of oak and grass (total n=8 each) were collected (spring 2017) and composite soil samples around plants, up to 10 cm depth were also collected. Soil properties were analyzed and concentrations of macro and micronutrients in soils and plants (shoots) were determined.</p><p>No statistical differences were observed between soils around grass and oak for all the studied parameters. Soils had a pH close to neutral and a good fertility. The mean total content in soils was 86.12 and 88.36 g Mn/kg, and 47.58 and 48.45 g Fe/kg around grass and oak, respectively. These values are higher than the average concentrations in non-contaminated soils of the region (0.74 g Mn/kg and 36.83 g Fe/kg). The Mn and Fe concentration in the soils available fraction (Rhizo method) was lower compared to total (397–441 mg Mn/kg and 18–11 mg Fe/kg in oak and grass, respectively). The concentration in the available fraction of other potentially toxic elements such as Cu and Zn was very low. Although the soils had high concentrations of Mn and Fe, the plant cover is significant and soils are totally colonized by herbaceous plants. Studied species showed a different accumulation pattern for the studied elements except for Cu. Quercus ilex showed concentrations of Fe in leaves (mean 158 mg/kg) lower than in grasses (mean 272 mg Fe/kg) while the opposite pattern was observed for Mn (mean 1363 mg/kg for oak and 353 mg/kg for grasses). Manganese concentrations in oak leaves were much greater than the normal range for mature leaf tissues but non-toxic for cattle and other domestic animals. The Fe concentration in the aerial part of both plants was much lower than the maximum tolerable value for cattle, sheep and poultry and also lower than the range considered normal for plants. Copper and Zn concentration in oak and grass was below the normal values for plants and lower than toxic levels for cattle. The concentration of Mn and Fe in the aerial parts of the studied plant species did not reach toxic levels for animal graze, indicating that these soils can be used for pasture.</p>

Biochar as an (Im)mobilizing Agent for the Potentially Toxic Elements in Contaminated Soils

2019 ◽  
pp. 255-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabry M. Shaheen ◽  
Ali El-Naggar ◽  
Jianxu Wang ◽  
Noha E.E. Hassan ◽  
Nabeel Khan Niazi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements

Human health risks from potentially toxic elements in soils of coal mining area

2022 ◽  
pp. 129-139
Author(s):  
R.E. Masto ◽  
J. George ◽  
V.A. Selvi ◽  
R.C. Tripathi ◽  
N.K. Srivastava
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Coal Mining Area ◽  
Human Health Risks

scholarly journals Assessment of soil contamination by potentially toxic elements in the aljustrel mining area in order to implement soil reclamation strategies

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 565-585 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Candeias ◽  
E. Ferreira da Silva ◽  
A.R. Salgueiro ◽  
H.G. Pereira ◽  
A.P. Reis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Reclamation

Pasture species behaviour on sulfide mine tailings rehabilitated with a designed Technosol

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego Arán ◽  
Erika Santos ◽  
Maria Manuela Abreu ◽  
Juan Antelo ◽  
Felipe Macías
Keyword(s):  
Mine Tailings ◽  
Trifolium Pratense ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Physicochemical Characteristics ◽  
Superficial Layer ◽  
Green Technology ◽  
Shoot Biomass ◽  
Mine Wastes

<p>The uranium mineralization from Fé mining area (Spain) contains sulfides, resulting mine wastes generators of acid mine drainage rich in potentially hazardous elements (PHE). The improvement of the physicochemical characteristics and biogeochemical processes of sulfide mine tailings as well as their socioeconomic valorisation can be achieved by the application of a green technology based on circular economy: Technosol. The efficiency of the application of a superficial layer of a designed Technosol with specific properties to the rehabilitation of the sulfide tailings from Fé mining area was tested. Also, the risk assessment of the land recovery by this technology to pasture was evaluated through a microcosm experiment.</p><p>After 20 months of the Technosol application in the field, composite samples of Technosol, recovered tailing (bottom of the Technosol) and tailings without recuperation (control tailing) were collected. These samples were used for microcosm assay and characterized for pH, electric conductivity, fertility, PHEs concentration in total fraction and available fraction extracted with rhizosphere-based method. The substrate effect on development of <em>Lollium perenne</em> and <em>Trifolium pratense</em> (visual signs of phytotoxity, percentage of plant cover and dry shoots biomass) and multielemental composition in their of shoots was evaluated in microcosm assay under greenhouse conditions.</p><p>Mine wastes from control tailing had pH ≈4 and high total concentrations of several PHEs (g/kg; Al: 46.2; As, Co and Pb: 0.02-0.03; Cu: 0.04; Fe: 63.2 Mn: 1.3; Ni and Zn: 0.1-0.2). Potentially toxic concentrations of Co, Mn and Ni were identified in the available fraction pointing out the serious environmental risk posed by the control tailing. These chemical characteristics together lack of structure iin mine wastes from control tailing contributed to total inhibition of Trifolium germination and a significant diminution of Lollium growth. Both species growing in Technosol and recovered tailing produced significant plant cover and quite similar amounts of shoot biomass.</p><p>The improvement of the overall physicochemical properties in the recovered tailing materials (e.g. the decrease of the hazardous element concentrations in available fraction, and the improvement of the fertility and structure) allowed a quick and secure plant cover with pasture species. The results evidenced the efficiency of the designed Technosol in the sulfide mine tailing rehabilitation and potential land recovery to pastures.</p><p>The authors thank ENUSA for technical cooperation and providing the study area and soil samples.</p>

Mercury and other potentially toxic elements in the Sierra Gorda (Queretaro area, Mexico): affection to enzymatic activity in soils.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Higueras ◽  
Karen Arroyo ◽  
JuanAntonio Campos ◽  
Jesus Peco ◽  
JoseMaria Esbrí ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alkaline Phosphatase ◽  
Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Enzymatic Activity ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Health ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Permissible Limits ◽  
Study Sites

<p>Cinnabar mining, to obtain mercury, is still an important activity for the residents of the Sierra Gorda in Mexico, so this activity is currently source of mercury emission and possibly of other potentially toxic elements (PTE). In this work, seven study sites, located in areas with presence of exploitations of active or decommissioned mercury mines, have been studies with the aim of characterizing its occurrence and their effects on soil health.</p><p>Biogeochemical analyses have been carried out with the purpose of identifying the key factors related with nutritional and toxicological status of these soils, looking for possible relationships between mercury, PTEs and their impact on the enzymatic activity of the soil.</p><p>The values ​​obtained for total mercury ranged from 5 to 159 ppm; comparing these values with those from an uncontaminated area, we observe that all zones are above reference range (0.01 to 0.03 mg/kg) and that four of them exceed the maximum permissible limits (23 mg/kg), according to Mexican regulations. Other measured PTE elements were Pb, with a range between 18.7 to 814.1 mg/kg; Cu between 45.4 to 94.2 mg/kg; Zn between 145.1 to 555.8 mg/kg; As between 30.5 to 1590 mg/kg; and Sb between 18.3 to 169.6 mg/kg.  Comparing with other areas, anomalous concentrations of trace elements in soils with the following values are considered: Pb up to 10,000 mg/kg, Cu up to 2,000 mg/kg, Zn up to 10,000 mg/kg and As up to 2500 mg/kg; none of the determined elements exceeds these reference values. In the case of enzymatic activities, a range between 111.36 and 332.38 µgTPF g<sup>-1</sup>day<sup>-1</sup> was obtained with dehydrogenase. These values are slightly higher compared to other Hg contaminated soils (110 µgTPF g<sup>-1</sup>day<sup>-1</sup>) described by this team. For the acid phosphatase, a range between 516.72 to 1606.34 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup>; and for alkaline phosphatase a range between 1624.92 to 4070.82 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup>. These values correspond to those measured in Sokolov, Czech Republic, ranging from 381 to 1510 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup> for acid phosphatase and 455 to 4820 µgPNF g<sup>-1</sup>h<sup>-1</sup> for alkaline phosphatase measured in topsoil layer from spoil heaps after brown coal mining.</p><p>Our results show that the soil has contents of PTE elements indicating low pollution degree, except for Hg, registering concentrations above the maximum permissible limits for non-industrial soils; however, the results of the enzymatic activity reflect a "good" activity. Therefore, the incidence of the presence of these metals in the soil health, as measured through enzymatic activity, does not have a significant impact and the studied soils can be considered as suitable for commercial, residential or agricultural uses.</p>

scholarly journals Soil amendments for immobilization of potentially toxic elements in contaminated soils: A critical review

2020 ◽  
Vol 134 ◽  
pp. 105046 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumuduni Niroshika Palansooriya ◽  
Sabry M. Shaheen ◽  
Season S. Chen ◽  
Daniel C.W. Tsang ◽  
Yohey Hashimoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Soil Amendments ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements

Solid speciation and mobility of potentially toxic elements from natural and contaminated soils: A combined approach

Chemosphere ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 776-784 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kierczak ◽  
C. Neel ◽  
U. Aleksander-Kwaterczak ◽  
E. Helios-Rybicka ◽  
H. Bril ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Contaminated Soils ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Combined Approach

scholarly journals Implications of Soil Potentially Toxic Elements Contamination, Distribution and Health Risk at Hunan’s Xikuangshan Mine

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1532
Author(s):  
Jing Bai ◽  
Wen Zhang ◽  
Weiyin Liu ◽  
Guohong Xiang ◽  
Yu Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Toxic Elements ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
Potentially Toxic Elements ◽  
Hunan Province

A field survey was conducted to determine the pollution grade, sources, potential ecological risk, and health risk of soil potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in Xikuangshan Mine (XKS), the largest antimony (Sb) deposit in the world. A total of 106 topsoil samples were collected from 6 sites in XKS to measure the concentrations of PTEs Cr, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, Hg, and Sb. The results show that the average concentrations of these elements at all six sites were generally greater than their corresponding background values in Hunan province, especially Sb, Hg, and As. Correlation and principal component analyses suggested that Cd, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Sb were primarily released from mining and other industrial and human activities, while Cr and As were mainly impacted by the parent material from pedogenesis. A risk index analysis showed that, overall, sites were at very high ecological risk, and Sb is the highest ecological risk factor, followed by Cd and Hg. According to health risk assessment, oral ingestion is the main non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk exposure route. The higher potentially non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks happen to the local children who live in the vicinity of mining area. It revealed that the mining and smelting processes of XKS have negatively influenced the local people, therefore, we should pay increasing attention to this practical issue and take effective measures to protect the ecology of XKS.

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