Lead-zinc mining and home-grown foodstuffs (Eastern FYR Macedonia)

Comunicação oral da qual só está disponível o resumo.Mining accompany our civilization since evolution. Since the “Copper (Chalcolithic) Age” and later “Golden Age”, mining activities have created great wealth. Unfortunately, beside wealth the exploitation of metal rich ores, have been almost always correlated with a negative impact to the nearby ecosystems. In this study a broad area around the active Pb-Zn Sasa mine (NE FYR Macedonia) was characterized, to evaluate the contents of some Potentially Toxic Elements (PTE). The PTE were determined in the surrounding fresh waters (lake and rivers), soils and the home-grown vegetables. The evaluation of the potential hazardous ef ects of the PTE, especially on humans, is a key goal. The PTE’s were determined by ICP-AES and ICP-MS. Furthermore also detailed questionnaires were applied among the local inhabitants. Sequential extraction analyses of selected soil samples revealed that the majority of PTE was bounded to water soluble and exchangeable fraction, which shows that those elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb and Zn) are therefore very easily mobile and consequently available to plants. According to the applied questionnaires, the consumption of home-grown foodstuf s is high, and certain vegetables, such as tomatoes, peppers, salads, etc., are consumed every day or even more than once a day. Chemical evaluation of PTE in home-grown vegetables revealed that the most crucial PTE’s (those which heavily exceed upper allowable limits) are Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Zn, and are closely followed by Cr and As. The calculated Health Risk Index (HRI) shows extremely high estimated values, both for adults and children. As the study area is surrounded by rich metallogenic ore deposits, is expected that the natural background is slightly higher than elsewhere. Nevertheless, the concentrations of PTE’s in waters used for irrigation which were increased and the wind-blown (aeorogenic) PTE’s pollution from the nearby tailings dam, both increases the PTE contents in the studied foodstuf s. Thus, the health of inhabitants in this area is of high concern

Potential toxic elements in stream sediments, soils and waters in an abandoned radium mine (central Portugal)

The Alto da Várzea radium mine (AV) exploited ore and U-bearing minerals, such as autunite and torbernite. The mine was exploited underground from 1911 to 1922, closed in 1946 without restoration, and actually a commercial area is deployed. Stream sediments, soils and water samples were collected between 2008 and 2009. Stream sediments are mainly contaminated in As, Th, U and W, which is related to the AV radium mine. The PTEs, As, Co, Cr, Sr, Th, U, W, Zn, and electrical conductivity reached the highest values in soils collected inside the mine influence. Soils are contaminated with As and U and must not be used for any purpose. Most waters have pH values ranging from 4.3 to 6.8 and are poorly mineralized (EC = 41-186 µS/cm; TDS = 33-172 mg/L). Groundwater contains the highest Cu, Cr and Pb contents. Arsenic occurs predominantly as H2(AsO4)- and H(AsO4)2-. Waters are saturated in goethite, haematite and some of them also in lepidocrocite and ferrihydrite, which adsorbs As (V). Lead is divalent in waters collected during the warm season, being mobile in these waters. Thorium occurs mainly as Th(OH)3(CO3)-, Th(OH)2(CO3) and Th(OH)2(CO3) 22- , which increase water Th contents. Uranium occurs predominantly as UO2CO3, but CaUO2(CO3) 32- and CaUO2(CO3)3 also occur, decreasing its mobility in water. The waters are contaminated in NO2-, Mn, Cu, As, Pb and U and must not be used for human consumption and in agricultural activities. The water contamination is mainly associated with the old radium mine and human activities. A restoration of the mining area with PTE monitoring is necessary to avoid a public hazard.Thanks are due to Prof. Joao Coutinho for the determination of organic matter and cation exchange capacity in samples of stream sediments and soils and A. Rodrigues for the water analyses, EDM for some information on the Alto da Varzea mine area. This study had the support of Portuguese Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic projects UID/GEO/04035/2013 and UID/MAR/04292/2013 (MARE).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of essential and nonessential dietary exposure to trace elements from homegrown foodstuffs in a polluted area in Makedonska Kamenica and the Kočani region (FYRM)

The main purpose of the present study is to assess human dietary exposure to essential and non-essential trace elements via consumption of selected homegrown foodstuffs. Twelve essential and non-essential trace elements (Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Zn and As) were detected in various homegrown foodstuffs. Detailed questionnaires were also applied among a sample of the local population to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics. The results of the present study clearly indicate that the majority of the trace elements are at highly elevated levels in the studied foodstuffs, in comparison to international recommendations. The maximum measured levels of ETE and NETE are as follows [μg kg−1]: Cd 873, Co 1370, Cu 21700, Cr 59633, Hg 26, Mo 6460, Ni14.5, Pb 11100, Sb 181, Se 0.30, Zn 102 and As 693. Additionally, age, body mass index and gender were significantly associated with levels of dietary exposure. Further research is warranted on the potential health implication of this exposure. Capsule abstract: The studymerges the accumulation of ETE andNETE in home-grownfoodstuffs and reflects considerably high health risks for inhabitants

Potentially toxic contamination of sediments, water and two animal species in Lake Kalimanci, FYR Macedonia: Relevance to human health

The objectives of the research were: (1) to examine the concentrations of metals in Vimba melanops and Rana temporaria and (2) to evaluate the potential risks of the contaminated organisms to human health in Makedonska Kamenica region. Analyses identified high levels of Cr, Hg, Ni and Pb in studied animals, which also exceeded their permissible levels in food. In sediment and soil samples, levels of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, Zn and As were perceived, while Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Se and As were increased in water samples. Results of transfer factor revealed that the examined animals had higher bioaccumulation rate from surrounding waters than from sediments or soils. The accomplished Health Risk Index disclosed that studied animals can have considerably high health risks for inhabitants. Conclusively, they could be considered as highly contaminated with metals and can consequently harm human health, especially children in their early development stages

Impacts of Pb-Zn mining on Lake Kalimanci and Human Health in Eastern Macedonia

Mining is very important economic activity. However, mining and related industries presents the main threat for environment. Pollution with heavy metals is a significant problem in Eastern Republic of Macedonia. In year 2003 great environmental disaster happened near small town Makedonska Kamenica, when the Sasa tailings dam collapsed and caused an intensive flow of mining waste material through Kamenica River valley and was discharged into Lake Klaimanci. Water from lake is used for irrigation, thus, the pollution assessment of the Lake Kalimanci sediments was made. The major, trace and rare earth element contamination in surficial lake sediments was studied to assess the effects of metalliferous mining activities. The mean concentrations of major elements [wt %] Si 23.5, Al 7.9, Fe 6.6, Mg 1.3, Ca 3.8, Na 1.1, K 2.3, Ti 0.4, P 0.2, Mn 0.6 and trace elements ranged within: Mo 1.0-4.6 mg kg-1, Cu 144.4-1162 mg kg-1, Pb 1874-16300 mg kg-1, Zn 2944-20900 mg kg-1, Ni 21.7-79.3 mg kg-1, Cd 16.5-136 mg kg-1, Sb 0.6-3.6 mg kg-1, Bi 3.0-24,3 mg kg-1 and Ag 1.4-17.3 mg kg-1. Results of rare earth elements (REE) in surficial lake sediments indicated that are tightly related to the catchment geology. The results of the sequential extraction procedure revealed the majority (Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cd) of investigated toxic metals and all REEs to be strongly bonded to the exchangeable fraction and the rest (As and Mo) to the oxidizable fraction. Regarding to results is evident that heavy metals and REEs are highly bioavailable for living organisms and can seriously affect human health

Impacts of Pb-Zn mining on Lake Kalimanci and Human Health in Eastern Macedonia

Mining is very important economic activity. However, mining and related industries presents the main threat for environment. Pollution with heavy metals is a significant problem in Eastern Republic of Macedonia. In year 2003 great environmental disaster happened near small town Makedonska Kamenica, when the Sasa tailings dam collapsed and caused an intensive flow of mining waste material through Kamenica River valley and was discharged into Lake Klaimanci. Water from lake is used for irrigation, thus, the pollution assessment of the Lake Kalimanci sediments was made. The major, trace and rare earth element contamination in surficial lake sediments was studied to assess the effects of metalliferous mining activities. The mean concentrations of major elements [wt %] Si 23.5, Al 7.9, Fe 6.6, Mg 1.3, Ca 3.8, Na 1.1, K 2.3, Ti 0.4, P 0.2, Mn 0.6 and trace elements ranged within: Mo 1.0-4.6 mg kg-1, Cu 144.4-1162 mg kg-1, Pb 1874-16300 mg kg-1, Zn 2944-20900 mg kg-1, Ni 21.7-79.3 mg kg-1, Cd 16.5-136 mg kg-1, Sb 0.6-3.6 mg kg-1, Bi 3.0-24,3 mg kg-1 and Ag 1.4-17.3 mg kg-1. Results of rare earth elements (REE) in surficial lake sediments indicated that are tightly related to the catchment geology. The results of the sequential extraction procedure revealed the majority (Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cu and Cd) of investigated toxic metals and all REEs to be strongly bonded to the exchangeable fraction and the rest (As and Mo) to the oxidizable fraction. Regarding to results is evident that heavy metals and REEs are highly bioavailable for living organisms and can seriously affect human health

Potentially toxic elements content in the surficial marine sediment (peloid) from Makirina bay (central Adriatic)

The aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of several potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the recent marine sediment of Makirina bay (central Adriatic), which could according to its organoleptic properties be used as a virgin material for medical treatment, wellness and relax purposes. Sediment samples were collected in June and July 2010 from six different sites in the central part of the bay. The range of measured elemental concentrations in analysed surficial sediment were: As (11-15,8 ppm), Cr (61,6 -109,5 ppm), Cu (19,4-54,2 ppm), Pb (16,8-29,6 ppm) and Zn (37-52 ppm). Sediment PTE pollution assessment was performed using contamination factor (CF), contamination degree (Cdeg) and pollution load index (PLI). The calculated environmental index values show a low to moderate contamination status of sediment. Future geochemical investigation on these sediments are necessary prior actual use in various therapeutic treatment