Assessment of metal(loid) and natural radionuclide pollution in surface sediments of an estuary affected by mining and phosphogypsum releases

被引：0
作者：
Guerrero, José Luis [1 ,2 ]
Barba-Lobo, Alejandro [1 ,3 ]
Romero-Forte, Carmen [1 ]
Bolívar, Juan Pedro [1 ]
机构：
[1] Department of Integrated Sciences, Center for Natural Resources, Health and Environment (RENSMA), University of Huelva, Avda. Fuerzas Armadas s/n, Huelva
[2] Global Earth Change and Environmental Geology Research Group, Department of Biology and Geology, Physics and Inorganic Chemistry, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, c/Tulipán s/n, Móstoles
[3] Department of Medical Radiation Sciences, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg
来源：
Environmental Science and Pollution Research | 2024年 / 31卷 / 39期
关键词：
Acid mine drainage; Heavy metals; Natural radionuclides; Phosphogypsum; Tinto River estuary;
D O I：
10.1007/s11356-024-34439-8
中图分类号：
学科分类号：
摘要：
The prolonged impact over the Tinto River estuary by both the significant pollution by acid mine drainage (AMD) affecting this river and the polluted releases from phosphogypsum (PG) piles has led to the severe environmental degradation of this ecosystem. The aim of this work was to assess the current environmental quality of the Tinto River estuary through the study of the spatial distribution of metal(loid)s and natural radionuclides in the surface sediments from the channel edge. The sediments contain mean concentrations 5–20 times higher than the background values for pollutants such as Zn, As, Cu, Pb, or U, and up to two orders of magnitude higher for P. The studied sediments are heavily polluted by toxic heavy metals and metalloids (Pb, Zn, Cu, and As) according to the US EPA guidelines. Most of the analyzed sediment samples are also strongly polluted by long-lived natural radionuclides, mainly U-isotopes and 210Pb with concentrations up to one order of magnitude higher than unpolluted sediments, mostly due to the contribution by the PG leachates. The enrichment factors (EF) were extremely high (EF > 50) for As and very severe enrichment (25 ≤ EF < 50) for P, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb. © The Author(s) 2024.
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页码：51489 / 51503
页数：14
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