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In the process of gold mining, large amounts of broken waste rocks are produced and left at the surface under atmospheric conditions, which may generate acid mine drainage (AMD). This study aimed to predict the AMD generation potential and determine the concentrations of potentially toxic metals at three dump sites for a gold mine in Thailand. The...
Citations
... Moreover, if leakage occurs in the mining and surrounding areas, it causes contamination by a variety of heavy metals, including As, Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd [4]. Furthermore, the research report by Boonsrang et al. [5] and Charuseiam et al. [6], who studied and analysed the contamination from the leaching of waste rocks in the mine area, found that the leachate contained As, Mn, and Cu concentrations exceeding the surface water quality standards in Thailand. Therefore, if wastewater is contaminated with heavy metals, it can affect human health and other organisms in water sources [7]. ...
The accumulation and uptake efficiency of heavy metals, including As, Mn, and Cu, in water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms) grown in synthetic acidic wastewater supplemented with sodium phytate (SP) was examined. Three treatments were studied using synthetic acidic wastewater containing 0.25, 5.0, and 1.0 mg/L of As, Mn, and Cu, respectively, (SM + heavy metals) and having pH in the range of 4–6, which comprised of (1) control treatments using SM + heavy metals at pH 4, 5, 6 without SP, and treatments using SM + heavy metals at pH 4, 5, 6 with SP: Cu (2) in a 1:3 M ratio and (3) a 1:6 M ratio. The translocation factor (TF < 1) indicated that plants had a lower capacity to transport heavy metals from the roots to the stems. The shoots of water hyacinth exhibited the highest capacity to absorb and store As in the pH 4-treatment with SP (SP:Cu1:3 mol), whereas the roots showed the greatest capacity at pH 4 without SP. The roots and shoots of the water hyacinth showed the greatest capacity to take up and store Mn in the pH 5-treatment with a 1:3 M ratio of SP:Cu. The roots showed the greatest capacity to take up and store Cu in the pH 6-treatment, and the shoots showed the highest capability in the pH 5-treatment with 1:3 M ratio of SP:Cu. Moreover, analysis of the chemical forms revealed that As accumulated in the arsenate form, whereas Mn accumulated in the divalent form.
... The average concentrations of the Tafna River exceed those observed by Koukal et al., (2004) for the Sebou River (watershed located in Morocco). These concentrations of Fe and Mn are relatively high in relation to the presence of clay minerals (kaolinite and illite) (Charuseiam et al., 2022), which are enriched in these elements in the formations drained by the Tafna (Benabdelkader, 2018). ...
Water and sediments have become a major threat. Heavy metals, some of which are potentially toxic, are distributed in different areas by different routes. Tafna river was studied upstream and downstream under contrasting hydrological conditions during the year 2020.The different levels and sources of pollution are assessed by combining geochemical indicators: geoaccumulation index (GI-go), contamination factor (CF), pollutant loading index (PLI) and supplemented by correlation matrix (CM) as statiscal analyses added principal component analysis (PCA). The elements analysed were physical and chemical parameters (pH, DO, electrical conductivity CE and, COD BOD5), and the metallic elements (Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mn and Zn). They were classified based on how contaminated they were: for the water compartment (Fe> Mn>Cu>Pb>Cd>Zn), while for sediments (Zn> Pb>Fe>Cd>Cu >Mn). The results suggest that the chemical composition of the waters of the Tafna river is influenced by the lithology, which contributes to the enrichment of the sediments. All of the indicators suggest an average levels of sediment and water pollution at the Tafna's summit, then decreases towards the bottom due to the geomorphology with multiple sources of pollution. As a result, our study offers the first comprehensive information on the amount of heavy metals present in the riverbed's sediment and water.
... Minerals associated with pyrite commonly occur with chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ) and pyrite (FeS 2 ) [5]. In an oxidative reaction with oxygen, the product dissolves in water and produces AMD, which deteriorates the environment [6]. ...
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is unique acidic wastewater produced in the process of iron mining and utilization. The soil and wetland contaminated by AMD in a mining area in Ma’anshan were studied in this paper. The physical and chemical characteristics and microbial community structure of the samples were analyzed to evaluate the resident soil pollution. The results showed that the soil around the acid reservoir was seriously polluted by metals such as Fe, Mn, Cd, and sulfate, and the loss of organic matter and total nitrogen was serious. With the increased distance between soil samples and the acid reservoir, the pollution degree of AMD decreased, the soil pH, organic matter and total nitrogen contents increased gradually, the soil microbial species increased slightly, and the diversity index increased. Bacillus, Lactococcus, and other bacteria with hydrolytic acid-producing functions accounted for more than 55.0% of the total bacterial community. Desulfuromonas, Desulfobulbus, and other genes involved in sulfur metabolism accounted for more than 24.0% of the total microbial community. In addition, Nitrosophaera, Nitrosopumilus, Methanoregula, and Methanosphaerula, which were involved in nitrogen cycling, were the dominant bacteria in the sampled soil. Our findings provide the basic data to support the mineral industry in China as well as for ecological functional evaluation based on species differences.
... The measured concentrations do not meet the Algerian environmental standards: 1.5 mg/L for Cu, 5 mg/L for Fe, 3 mg/L for Zn, and 0.2 mg/L for Pb and Cd (Executive Decree No. 06-141). It should be noted that in terms of AMD prediction, weathering cell tests do not realistically reflect natural conditions compared to humidity cells or real field, since AMD takes a long period of time to achieve equilibrium and it depends on several specific factors (grain size distribution, mineralogical and chemical compositions, and climatology) [1] [54] C. Alkaline amendment Figure 5 showed the water quality of the leachates (variations in pH, conductivity, redox potential and metal concentrations) at different time during the humidity cell tests for the 5 phosphate amendments tested. ...
... Zinc probably precipitated into all the cells. Zn immobilization is due to the ion exchange and complexation mechanisms; it results in the formation of Zn-containing phosphates [54]. The variation curves for lead concentration in all leachates indicated a descending trend from an initial concentration of (0.80 to 0.012 mg/L for C1), (0.71 to 0.013 mg/L for C2), (0.80 to 0.01 mg/L for C3), (0.82 to 0.01 mg/L for C4) and (0.85 to 0.015 mg/L for C5) (Fig. 5f). ...
The aims of this paper was to evaluate the efficiency of phosphates product and by-products from the Djebel Onk mine for the control of acidic mine drainage generated by exposure of Sidi Kamber mine tailings to climatic conditions. Kinetic tests in humidity cells were carried out according to the modified ASTM standard, was used to invistigate the geochemical behaviour of the Sidi Kamber tailings mixed with phosphate materials (phosphatic limestone wastes, raw low grade phosphate ore and phosphate mine tailings) after being characterized. All amendment compositions led to an increase of the pH of the leachate from approximately 3 to circum-neutral values. Humidity cells experiments indicated that the materials were adequate to immobilize Pb, Zn, Cu and Fe by about 99% and prevent their release through the tailings. The tests have also shown that the metals concentrations within the leachate are lower than the limits allowed by Algerian legislation for industrial liquid effluents. Among the tested material amendments, PLW was more effective than other products in immobilizing metals. The results are most probably related to their Ca-carbonate content and/or adsorption capacity.
... PCA, one of the multivariate statistical techniques, has been widely used to assess water quality variations (Mishra, 2010;Azhar et al., 2015;Zeinalzadeh and Rezaei, 2017;Boonsrang et al., 2018;Chotpantarat et al., 2020;Wisitthammasri et al., 2020;Boonkaewwan et al., 2021;Chotpantarat and Thamrongsrisakul, 2021). Due to the advantage of the PCA method, complicated databases would be simplified to provide a better understanding of water quality (Singh et al., 2005;Charuseiam et al., 2022). ...
Study region
Ganh Hao River, Ca Mau Peninsular, Vietnamese Mekong Delta.
Study focus
The study was conducted to determine the extent of pollution by physicochemical parameters and heavy metals through seasonally sampling of the river. The water quality was compared with international and Vietnamese standards, while sediment quality was compared with the Vietnamese standard and pollution indices (Geo-Accumulation Index, Contamination Factor, and Pollution Load Index). The principal component analysis (PCA) was employed for explaining the main factors responsible for observed levels of water pollution. The oscillations due to tidal cycles and seasonality were also evaluated by statistical comparison. Based on the logistic regression models, the temporal variability of selected water quality parameters was visualized using QGIS.
New hydrological insights
The results showed that the concentrations of nutrients and organic compounds exceeded the allowable standards for surface water quality. The concentrations of heavy metals were below the allowable standard for sediment quality and consistent with the background levels. The influences of the tidal regime and seasonality caused significant changes in water quality. Aquaculture practices and tidal regimes accounted for 79.84% of the total variance in water quality characteristics. The extensive and improved-extensive shrimp culture activities were identified in relation to the variation in water quality, and water quality maps highlighted pollution hotspots. The research results could be useful not only to policymakers in developing water resources management strategies but also likely widespread implications for other rivers beyond the geographical regions.
... Heavy metal contamination in groundwater is a significant problem found in many areas, especially in Southeast Asian countries like China, Bangladesh, India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand (Bang et al., 2009;Boonsrang et al., 2018;Chotpantarat et al., 2015;Gan et al., 2014;Islam et al., 2000;Phan et al., 2010;Singh et al., 2018;Wongsasuluk et al., 2014). Groundwater contamination might be a result of rock and mineral weathering, land usages and improper waste disposal (Charuseiam et al., 2021;Chotpantarat et al., 2011;Faisal et al., 2014;Smedley and Kinniburgh, 2002;Sonthiphand et al., 2019;Wuana and Okieimen, 2011). Several studies showed arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) to be among the most detected heavy metals in contaminated groundwater, exceeding the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 10 μg/L (Smedley and Kinniburgh, 2013;Smoke and Smoking, 2004;McArthur et al., 2001). ...
This study investigates the presence of arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in groundwater and their spatial distribution in Ban Khai District, Rayong Province, Thailand. Forty groundwater samples were collected at different locations in the dry and wet seasons during March and August of 2019, respectively. The hydrochemical facies illustrate that the major groundwater types in both seasons mainly consisted of Ca–Na–HCO3, Ca–HCO3–Cl and Na–HCO3 types. The concentration of As ranged from <0.300 to 183.00 μg/L, accounting for 22% (18 of 80 samples), exceeding the WHO guidelines of 10 μg/L. The spatial distribution of As was distinctly predominant as a hot spot in some areas during the wet season. The wells may have been contaminated from human activity and thus constituted a point source in the adjacent area. For Pb, its concentration in all the wells were not exceeded 10 μg/L of the WHO guidelines, appearing as a background concentration in this area. Most of the wells were shown to be in an oxidation state, supporting AsV mobility. Moreover, the area also had a nearly neutral pH that promoted AsV desorption, while the presence of undissolved Pb in the aquifers tended to increase. Furthermore, chemical applications to agricultural processes could release the As composition into the groundwater. The health risk resulting from oral consumption was at a higher risk level than dermal contact. The non-carcinogenic risk affecting the adult population exceeded the threshold level by approximately 27.5% of the wells, while for the children group, the risk level was within the limit. Total cancer risk (TCR) of adult residents exceeded the acceptable risk level (1 × 10⁻⁶) in all wells, causing carcinogenic health effects. Therefore, health surveillance is important in monitoring the toxic effects on the local residents who use groundwater from these contaminated wells. Furthermore, a sanitation service and an alternative treatment of the water supply will be needed, especially in wells with high As levels.
The leaching of heavy metals from abandoned mine tailings can pose a severe threat to surrounding areas, especially in the regions influenced by acid rain with high frequency. In this study, the potential risks of heavy metals in the tailings collected from a small-scale abandoned multi-metal mine was assessed, and their leaching behavior and mechanism were investigated by batch, semi-dynamic and in situ leaching experiments under simulated and natural rainfall conditions. The results suggested that Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd in the tailings could cause high/very high risks. Both batch and semi-dynamic leaching tests consistently confirmed that the leaching of heavy metals (particularly Cd) could lead to serious pollution of the surrounding environment. The leaching rates of heavy metals were pH-dependent and related to their chemical speciations in the mine tailings. The leaching behavior of Cu and Cd was dominated by surface wash-off, Zn was controlled by diffusion initially and then surface wash-off, and the leaching mechanisms of Pb and As varied with the pH conditions. It was estimated that acid rain could greatly elevate the release fluxes of Zn (20.8%), Cu (36.7%), Pb (49.9%) and Cd (35.3%) in the study area. These findings could improve the understanding of the leaching behavior of heavy metals from mine tailings and assist in developing appropriate management strategies.
