Contamination of stream waters, sediments, and agricultural soil in the surroundings of an abandoned copper mine by potentially toxic elements and associated environmental and potential human health-derived risks: a case study from Agrokipia, Cyprus

Environmental Science and Pollution Research International
Costas HadjipanagiotouSoterios P Varnavas

Abstract

Abandoned mining areas have left a legacy of environmental damage with potential public health implications. The present study aimed at (1) assessing the level of contamination of the sites surrounding the Agrokipia abandoned copper mine in Cyprus through the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), (2) correlating results with the mineralogy of the area, (3) discussing potential ecological and human health risks, and (4) proposing regeneration strategies. To this effect, the levels of 22 PTEs and other major elements were assessed in the acidic water of pit lakes, the tailings, the waters, and sediments of several streams originating from the mining site and flowing through the village of Agrokipia, and from agricultural soil from an impacted adjacent olive orchard. The pH values of water (pH < 2.7) in the pit lakes uncovered the acidic and oxidizing conditions that prevailed in the area. The acidity and the examined PTE concentrations in stream waters followed a decreasing trend with increasing distance from the tailing, reaching background values in a distance of 1500 m. The tailing spoil-heap was significantly enriched with Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ag (e.g., enrichment factor values up to 29 for Cu and 120 for Ag)....Continue Reading

References

May 3, 2000·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·D D MacDonaldT A Berger
Sep 23, 2003·Research in Microbiology·D Barrie Johnson, Kevin B Hallberg
Mar 31, 2006·Environmental Science & Technology·Edward R LongDonald D MacDonald
Feb 1, 1995·Environmental Science & Technology·K D Daskalakis, T P O'Connor
Feb 15, 2012·The Science of the Total Environment·David R CohenAndreas M Zissimos
Sep 5, 2012·EXS·Paul B TchounwouDwayne J Sutton
Jan 21, 2015·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Konstantinos KostarelosDimitris Dermatas
Feb 7, 2016·Environment International·G TóthL Montanarella
Apr 16, 2016·Science·Karen Hudson-Edwards
May 15, 2016·The Science of the Total Environment·Mélida GutiérrezLucy Mar Camacho
Mar 13, 2017·Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety·Ran XiaoZengqiang Zhang
Sep 8, 2017·Scientific Reports·Vanessa HatjePeter Christian Hackspacher
Jun 23, 2018·The Science of the Total Environment·Gevorg TepanosyanArmen Saghatelyan

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Nov 15, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Anita Punia
Mar 7, 2021·Molecules : a Journal of Synthetic Chemistry and Natural Product Chemistry·Xing ZhangHong Xu
Sep 3, 2021·Chemosphere·Francesco GuarinoAngela Cicatelli

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.