Environmental impact of toxic metals and metalloids from the Muñón Cimero mercury-mining area (Asturias, Spain)

Journal of Hazardous Materials
Jorge LoredoRodrigo Alvarez

Abstract

This paper presents the results of the sampling surveys carried out in order to evaluate the environmental problems associated to La Soterraña, an abandoned Hg mine in Asturias, north of Spain. In particular, this paper overviews the impact of mining and metallurgical activities on terrestrial and aquatic environments. The wastes generated during the mining activity (ore extraction and processing) and later accumulated on the ground, contain great amount of sulphides, becoming potentially acid-generating. Consequently, the mobility of heavy metals and other ecotoxic elements is enhanced. Wastes are generally located close to watercourses and on very steep hillsides, where they are exposed to oxidative weathering, posing a significant risk due to the release of ecotoxic elements to the environment. Background levels were determined at sites, which had not been directly affected by mercury mining. A multielemental geochemical study of mining wastes, soils, stream sediments, water and air samples collected in the area of influence of the old mining and metallurgical works was carried out. Total Hg and As concentrations in soils reach values up to 502 and 19,940 mg kg(-1), respectively, 500 and 2000 times higher than the local back...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 17, 2013·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·A OrdóñezJ Loredo
Apr 25, 2013·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Ping LiJianxu Wang
Apr 15, 2014·Environmental Geochemistry and Health·Veronica SilvaIsabel Rucandio
Oct 25, 2011·Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·Bensu KarahalilOrkun Alp
Nov 6, 2007·Waste Management·A Daryabeigi Zand, M A Abduli
Aug 8, 2015·International Journal of Phytoremediation·Michal HlodákLucia Kořenková
Sep 16, 2014·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·W C Li, H F Tse
Nov 7, 2014·Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology·L Méndez-FernándezM Martínez-Madrid
Oct 19, 2016·Environmental Monitoring and Assessment·M'hamed SeklaouiWalter Prochaska
Oct 29, 2010·Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM·A OrdóñezJ Loredo
Mar 21, 2017·Water, Air, and Soil Pollution·Barbara GworekJustyna Wrzosek-Jakubowska
Dec 6, 2011·Journal of Environmental Monitoring : JEM·Raquel LariosIsabel Rucandio
Dec 4, 2019·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Bo YangBo Li
Jul 29, 2010·Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous Substances & Environmental Engineering·Chavon R WilliamsVernon S Somerset
Jun 26, 2021·Environmental Research·Panos PanagosCristiano Ballabio

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