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1.
Environ Geochem Health ; 46(3): 101, 2024 Mar 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38429439

RESUMO

This study presents a picture of ASGM in Brazil and prospective numbers on mercury emissions and releases in 2016, when the country declared production of about 90 tonnes of gold, of which circa 25 tonnes came from ASGM. However, it is also necessary to consider the illegal production of ASGM which is estimated to vary between 10% and eight times more than the legal production. The proposed method included: organization of spatial data on legal ASGM output, stakeholder identification and meetings, mercury metallurgical balance, quantitative measurement of mercury in the atmosphere and qualitative social aspects such as the miners' economic dependence on the managers and scenarios of illegal ASGM annual production. The main results revealed that the initial mercury (Hg)-gold (Au) production ratio was higher for the primary whole ore than for the concentrate secondary ore, which is the most frequent type of Brazilian ASGM. The amalgam filtering technique followed by mercury recovery is routine, decreasing the Hg releases to tailings ponds or to soil and water bodies. The mercury emissions by thermal decomposition of amalgam are independent of the initial mercury mass, depending only on the mercury in the amalgam and the (adequate) use or not of emission control systems. Illegal activities reduce the availability and proper use of these systems, resulting in higher emissions. Mercury emissions from ASGM in Brazil may increase the global mercury emissions estimates, while their mercury releases may represent a marginal increase. As the mercury emitted may be trapped by the rainforests added to the mercury released, the environmental contamination may pose health risks to Amazonian population, which requires immediate action.


Assuntos
Mercúrio , Exposição Ocupacional , Exposição Ambiental/análise , Mercúrio/análise , Brasil , Ouro , Estudos Prospectivos , Exposição Ocupacional/análise , Mineração
2.
PLoS One ; 19(3): e0299044, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38427649

RESUMO

Scraper conveyor is the most important transportation equipment in the comprehensive mining equipment, and the chain drive system is its core subsystem, its dynamic characteristics will significantly affect the efficiency of coal transportation in the comprehensive mining face. In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of chain drive system when impacted by falling coal are investigated by means of test. The impact test bench of scraper conveyor was set up to analyze the effects of chain speed, impact height and impact load mass on the dynamic characteristics of the chain drive system of scraper conveyor under the working conditions of unloaded and loaded. The results show that the longitudinal vibration of the scraper conveyor is most obvious when it is impacted by the falling coal, and the chain speed, impact height and impact load mass of the scraper conveyor all play an excitation role on the vibration of the chain drive system, and the vibration of the chain ring is the most intense in the chain drive system, and the loaded coal pile conveyed on the scraper conveyor plays an inhibiting role on the vibration of the chain drive system. This study can help to identify the location where the scraper conveyor fails first in the impact condition, so as to provide a basis for its structural design and improvement, which is of great significance for the stable operation and structural optimization of the scraper conveyor.


Assuntos
Carvão Mineral , Mineração , Carvão Mineral/análise , Meios de Transporte , Vibração
3.
Front Public Health ; 12: 1352043, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38481852

RESUMO

Objective: Mercury (Hg) contamination in the environment around mercury mines is often accompanied by heavy metal contamination. Methods: Here, we determined concentrations of chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba), and lead (Pb) in duck eggs from a Hg mining area in Southwest China to assess the contamination and health risk. Results: Duck eggs obtained from the mining area exhibit higher concentrations of Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb compared to those from the background area, with egg yolks containing higher metal levels than egg whites. Specifically, the mean Cr, Zn, Sr, Ba, and Pb concentrations of duck eggs from the Hg mining area are 0.38, 63.06, 4.86, 10.08, and 0.05 µg/g, respectively, while those from the background area are only 0.21, 24.65, 1.43, 1.05, and 0.01 µg/g. Based on the single-factor contamination index and health risk assessment, heavy metal contamination in duck eggs poses an ecological risk and health risk. Conclusion: This study provides important insight into heavy metal contamination in duck eggs from Hg mining areas.


Assuntos
Mercúrio , Metais Pesados , Animais , Mercúrio/análise , Patos , Chumbo , Metais Pesados/análise , Zinco/análise , Mineração
4.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(10): 15716-15732, 2024 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38305969

RESUMO

Tongling is a significant non-ferrous metal mining city in China, which produces waste that negatively impacts the area's water environment. It is essential to comprehend the hydrochemical properties and formation processes of groundwater to safeguard and utilize it efficiently. We explored major ions, strontium, and its isotopes in water and river-bottom samples from the northern (i.e., A-A' section) and southern (i.e., B-B' section) areas. The hydrochemical facies show the mining activities have a greater impact on surface water than on groundwater. Groundwater hydrochemical formation results from several factors, with water-rock interaction and ion exchange being primary. Additionally, the dissolution of calcite, dolomite, and feldspar, oxidation of pyrite, and hydrolysis of carbonate minerals also impact the formation of groundwater chemistry. Our analysis of strontium and its isotopes indicates that carbonate dissolution primarily occurred in the recharge area; the runoff from the recharge to the discharge area results in the dissolution of certain silicate rocks; calcite dissolution sources account for > 70% contribution in both surface water and groundwater water-rock interactions, whereas silicate rock dissolution sources and dolomite dissolution sources account for < 30%. Due to changed order of dissolved carbonate and silicate minerals during groundwater flow, the distribution of strontium and its isotopes in the A-A' section is opposite to that in the B-B' section. The findings provide a basis for developing, utilizing, managing, and protecting groundwater resources, especially in similar mining areas.


Assuntos
Água Subterrânea , Magnésio , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/análise , Carbonato de Cálcio/análise , Água Subterrânea/química , Mineração , Isótopos de Estrôncio/análise , Minerais/análise , Estrôncio/análise , Carbonatos/análise , Isótopos/análise , Silicatos/análise , Água/análise
5.
Sci Total Environ ; 920: 170996, 2024 Apr 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38369136

RESUMO

Mine reclamation historically focuses on enhancing plant coverage to improve below and aboveground ecology. However, there is a great need to study the role of soil microorganisms in mine reclamation, particularly long-term studies that track the succession of microbial communities. Here, we investigate the trajectory of microbial communities of mining sites reclaimed between three and 26 years. We used high-throughput amplicon sequencing to characterize the bacterial and fungal communities. We quantified how similar the reclaimed sites were to unmined, undisturbed reference sites and explored the trajectory of microbial communities along the reclamation chronosequence. We also examined the ecological processes that shape the assembly of bacterial communities. Finally, we investigated the functional potential of the microbial communities through metagenomic sequencing. Our results reveal that the reclamation age significantly impacted the community compositions of bacterial and fungal communities. As the reclamation age increases, bacterial and fungal communities become similar to the unmined, undisturbed reference site, suggesting a favorable succession in microbial communities. The bacterial community assembly was also significantly impacted by reclamation age and was primarily driven by stochastic processes, indicating a lesser influence of environmental properties on the bacterial community. Furthermore, our read-based metagenomic analysis showed that the microbial communities' functional potential increasingly became similar to the reference sites. Additionally, we found that the plant richness increased with the reclamation age. Overall, our study shows that both above- and belowground ecological properties of reclaimed mine sites trend towards undisturbed sites with increasing reclamation age. Further, it demonstrates the importance of microbial genomics in tracking the trajectory of ecosystem reclamation.


Assuntos
Microbiota , Micobioma , Microbiologia do Solo , Mineração , Plantas , Solo , Bactérias/genética
6.
Nat Food ; 5(2): 111-115, 2024 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38374417

RESUMO

Food security and healthy ecosystems are placed in jeopardy by poor potassium management. Six actions may prevent declines in crop yield due to soil potassium deficiency, safeguard farmers from potash price volatility and address environmental concerns associated with potash mining.


Assuntos
Ecossistema , Potássio , Solo , Mineração , Segurança Alimentar
7.
Sci Total Environ ; 921: 171017, 2024 Apr 15.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38369145

RESUMO

Abandoned Mine Lands (AMLs) are areas where previous mineral extraction or processing has occurred. Hundreds of thousands of AMLs exist within the United States. Contaminated runoff from AMLs can negatively affect the physiology and ecology of surrounding terrestrial and aquatic habitats and species and can be detrimental to human health. As a response, several U.S. federal and state agencies have launched programs to assess health risks associated with AMLs. In some cases, however, AMLs may be beneficial to specific wildlife taxa. There is a relative paucity of studies investigating the physiological and ecological impacts of AMLs on wildlife. We conducted a systematic review examining published scientific articles that assessed the negative and positive impacts of AMLs across invertebrate and vertebrate taxa. We also offer suggestions on evaluating AMLs to develop effective mitigation strategies that reduce their negative tole on human and wildlife communities. Peer-reviewed publications were screened across WebofScience, PubMed and Google Scholar databases. Abandoned mine lands were generally detrimental to wildlife, with adverse effects ranging from bioaccumulation of heavy metals to decreased ecological fitness. Conversely, AMLs were an overall benefit to imperiled bat populations and could serve as tools for conservation. Studies were unevenly distributed across different wildlife taxa groups, echoing the necessity for additional taxonomically diverse research. We suggest that standardized wildlife survey methods be used to assess how different species utilize AMLs. Federal and state agencies can use these surveys to establish effective remediation plans for individual AML sites and minimize the risks to both wildlife and humans.


Assuntos
Animais Selvagens , Mineração , Animais , Humanos , Estados Unidos , Invertebrados , Ecossistema , Meio Ambiente , Etoposídeo , Ifosfamida
8.
J Environ Manage ; 354: 120436, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38394872

RESUMO

Understanding the nitrogen and sulfur uptake strategies of mine plants, including sources and preferences for nitrogen forms (ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) vs nitrate nitrogen (NO3-)), is critical to improving understanding of the role of plants in participating in the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and sulfur in mining areas. In this study, the stable N and S isotopic compositions of two species of aquatic plants (calamus and reed) in Linhuan mining area were analyzed to determine their absorption strategies for different nitrogen and sulfur sources. The results showed that river water was the largest source of nitrogen and sulfur, contributing 54.6% and 53.9% respectively. NO3- is the main form of nitrogen uptake by reed and calamus, followed by NH4+. In order to adapt to the change of nitrogen form in the environment, reed and calamus tend to absorb and utilize NO3- to maintain their absorption of nitrogen. Mine effluents from mining activities provide at least 12.9% and 16.8% sulfate to reed and calamus respectively, and the effect of mine effluents on reed and calamus sulfur has been underestimated. This study reveals the key factors controlling plant isotope composition, and the use of nitrogen and sulfur isotope composition of aquatic plants can help quantify the level of influence of mining activities, and understand the biogeochemical cycle of nitrogen and sulfur in mining areas.


Assuntos
Nitrogênio , Poluentes Químicos da Água , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Poluentes Químicos da Água/química , Mineração , Nitratos/análise , Enxofre , Isótopos de Nitrogênio/análise
9.
Environ Geochem Health ; 46(3): 99, 2024 Feb 25.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38403801

RESUMO

Mining increases environmental concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) accumulating in organisms and spreading in the human food chain-their presence in milk is of great human health concern. Pathways were identified by which these elements reach raw milk from farms within a mining area in Northwestern Mexico; health risks for dairy cattle and children were also evaluated. Water from river and cattle waterers, as well as, soils showed that PTE concentrations generally below the Mexican and international limits; cattle forage concentrations were above the World Health Organization limits. Al, Mg, Mo, Ni and Zn were recorded in raw milk samples from the mining area, showing that Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb and V are transferred from soil to plants but not accumulated in raw milk. Zn concentrations in raw milk exceeded the permissible limit; milk from farms without mining operations (comparison site) showed the presence of Al, Cr and Cu. In cattle tail hair, PTE did not correlate with raw milk concentrations. Metal accumulation in milk was higher through water consumption than that accumulated through forage consumption. Daily intakes (DI) of Al, Mg and Zn in cows could represent a risk for their health. The observed biotransference was higher than in other parts of Mexico, and the calculated DI and hazard quotients indicate no adverse health effects for children. However, the hazard Index values indicate that exposure to multiple PTE represents a risk for children. Management measures should be performed to control the cumulative risks to protect young children's health.


Assuntos
Metais Pesados , Poluentes do Solo , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Animais , Bovinos , Pré-Escolar , Solo , Metais Pesados/toxicidade , Metais Pesados/análise , Água , México , Mineração , Plantas , Monitoramento Ambiental , Medição de Risco , Poluentes do Solo/toxicidade , Poluentes do Solo/análise
10.
Sensors (Basel) ; 24(4)2024 Feb 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38400440

RESUMO

This research addresses the paramount issue of enhancing safety and health conditions in underground mines through the selection of optimal sensor technologies. A novel hybrid MEREC-CoCoSo system is proposed, integrating the strengths of the MEREC (Method for Eliciting Relative Weights) and Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) methods. The study involves a three-stage framework: criteria and sensor discernment, criteria weight determination using MEREC, and sensor prioritization through the MEREC-CoCoSo framework. Fifteen criteria and ten sensors were identified, and a comprehensive analysis, including MEREC-based weight determination, led to the prioritization of "Ease of Installation" as the most critical criterion. Proximity sensors were identified as the optimal choice, followed by biometric sensors, gas sensors, and temperature and humidity sensors. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed MEREC-CoCoSo model, a rigorous comparison was conducted with established methods, including VIKOR, TOPSIS, TODIM, ELECTRE, COPRAS, EDAS, and TRUST. The comparison encompassed relevant metrics such as accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity, providing a comprehensive understanding of the proposed model's performance in relation to other established methodologies. The outcomes of this comparative analysis consistently demonstrated the superiority of the MEREC-CoCoSo model in accurately selecting the best sensor for ensuring safety and health in underground mining. Notably, the proposed model exhibited higher accuracy rates, increased sensitivity, and improved specificity compared to alternative methods. These results affirm the robustness and reliability of the MEREC-CoCoSo model, establishing it as a state-of-the-art decision-making framework for sensor selection in underground mine safety. The inclusion of these actual results enhances the clarity and credibility of our research, providing valuable insights into the superior performance of the proposed model compared to existing methodologies. The main objective of this research is to develop a robust decision-making framework for optimal sensor selection in underground mines, with a focus on enhancing safety and health conditions. The study seeks to identify and prioritize critical criteria for sensor selection in the context of underground mine safety. The research strives to contribute to the mining industry by offering a structured and effective approach to sensor selection, prioritizing safety and health in underground mining operations.


Assuntos
Mineração , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Umidade
11.
PLoS One ; 19(2): e0296932, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38394262

RESUMO

The delineation of the open-pit mining boundary, particularly in the context of medium to long-term planning, forms the foundation of mining design. However, due to the non-linear and dynamic nature of the economic and technical parameters influencing boundary delineation, determining the optimal mining boundary can be exceedingly challenging. Currently, most boundary optimization methods assume that block parameters remain fixed, which results in enterprises assuming a certain level of risk when facing changes in internal and external conditions. In this regard, this paper introduces the concept of "achievement degree" to reflect the risk associated with the results of boundary design. Using coal prices as an example, this article applies the predicted coal price curve to boundary optimization adjustments by specifying the "achievement degree" requirements for various time periods, thereby facilitating risk-controlled and economically optimal boundary decisions. Taking the illustrative case of an idealized small-scale inclined coal seam open-pit mine, adjustments to the boundary closely track variations in coal prices, further enhancing returns. The results demonstrate that the method proposed in this paper can increase overall revenue by approximately 51.15% within the forecast period, while effectively managing risks.


Assuntos
Minas de Carvão , Carvão Mineral , Mineração , Medição de Risco , Gestão de Riscos
12.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 3663, 2024 02 13.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38351239

RESUMO

Mining has led to severe environmental pollution in countries with exhaustive mining production and inadequate industrial waste regulation. Microorganisms in contaminated sites, like mine tailings, have adapted to high concentrations of heavy metals, developing the capacity of reducing or removing them from these environments. Therefore, it is essential to thoroughly characterize bacteria present in these sites to find different ways of bioremediation. In this regard, in this study, an enrichment and isolation procedure were performed to isolate bacteria with lower nutritional requirements and high tolerance to Cu(II) and Fe(II) from two Sonoran River basin mining tails. Two Staphylococcus species and a Microbacterium ginsengisoli strain were isolated and identified from the San Felipe de Jesús mining tail. Also, three strains were isolated from the Nacozari de García mining tail: Burkholderia cenocepacia, Sphingomonas sp. and Staphylococcus warneri. Significant microbiological differences were found between the two sites. All these species exhibited tolerance up to 300 mg/L for Cu (II)-Fe (II) solutions, indicating their capacity to grow in these conditions. Moreover, a consortium of isolated bacteria was immobilized in two different biocomposites and the biocomposite with larger pore size achieved greater bacterial immobilization showcasing the potential of these bacteria in biotechnological applications.


Assuntos
Metais Pesados , Poluentes do Solo , Metais Pesados/análise , Resíduos Industriais/análise , Mineração , Biodegradação Ambiental , Bactérias , Poluentes do Solo/análise
15.
Braz J Biol ; 83: e279616, 2024.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38422278

RESUMO

The purpose of this study was to assess the processes of plant community formation on recultivated dumps of spent uranium-containing industrial waste from uranium deposit mines, as well as to identify the degree of impact of agro-climatic factors, agrochemical indicators of soils of recultivated dumps, and the level of residual ionizing radiation on the productivity of the emerging vegetation cover. Studies of plant colonization of recultivated Grachevsky and Shantobinsky uranium mine dumps located in Northern Kazakhstan were carried out. The mining and technical stage of reclamation consisted of planning a dump with slopes of 15° and covering it with a 1 m layer of chestnut soil. In total, 30-35 plant species are present in the dumps, the projective coverage is approximately the same (56.6-70.0%), and the herbage density is 15-16.6 plants/100 m2. As a result of the measures taken to recultivate the dumps, the intensity of the background ionizing radiation at the Grachevsky mine dump was in the range of 25-35 µR/hr and at the Shantobinsky mine dump 10-25 µR/hr, which indicates compliance with safety standards. The plant species which can be used for artificial plant colonization of uranium-containing waste dumps, were identified.


Assuntos
Urânio , Cazaquistão , Mineração , Resíduos Industriais , Plantas
16.
Environ Geochem Health ; 46(3): 83, 2024 Feb 17.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38367093

RESUMO

To investigate the influence of mercury (Hg) mining/smelting on the surrounding soil environment, ninety soil samples were collected around Hg mining/smelting areas in Tongren city, Guizhou Province, Southwest China. The total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), bioavailability and fractions of Hg in the soil and their potential risk were evaluated. The results showed that Hg mining/smelting significantly increased the soil pH and decreased the soil organic matter content (p < 0.05). The THg content in the surrounding soil was much higher than that at the control site, with almost all the samples exceeding the national standard in China (3.4 mg/kg, GB15618-2018). Similarly, the concentrations of MeHg (0.09-2.74 µg/kg) and bioavailable Hg (0.64-62.94 µg/kg) in these soil samples were also significantly higher than those in the control site. However, the MeHg/THg ratio was significantly lower in mining/smelting influenced soils (0.01-0.68%) than in control soils (0.60-3.72%). Fraction analysis revealed that residual (RES-Hg) and organic matter-bounded (OM-Hg) Hg accounted for more than 50% of the THg. Ecological risk assessment revealed that the potential ecological risk for most of the Hg mining/smelting-influenced soils (30.16 ≤ Er ≤ 2280.02) were higher than those at the control site (15.12 ≤ Er ≤ 27.1). In addition, these Hg mining/smelting-influenced soils posed acceptable noncarcinogenic risks to adults (except for two soil samples), with hazard indices (HIs) ranging from 0.04 to 1.11 and a mean HI of 0.44. However, children suffer serious noncarcinogenic risks, with HIs ranging from 0.34 to 7.43 and a mean HI of 3.10.


Assuntos
Mercúrio , Compostos de Metilmercúrio , Poluentes do Solo , Criança , Humanos , Mercúrio/análise , Solo/química , Poluentes do Solo/toxicidade , Poluentes do Solo/análise , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos , Compostos de Metilmercúrio/toxicidade , Compostos de Metilmercúrio/análise , China , Mineração , Medição de Risco
17.
J Environ Manage ; 353: 120237, 2024 Feb 27.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38310796

RESUMO

The soil quality index (SQI) serves as a general ecological restoration indicator, however, statistics approaches that accurately assess the minimum data set (MDS) for SQI remain susceptible. The present study aims to evaluate the short-term reclamation results at the Ferro-Carvão stream and propose a system for ecological restoration monitoring, by selecting influential attributes and indexing soil quality. We hypothesized that the reclamation activities at the Ferro-Carvão stream, referred to as the "Marco zero" (MZ) area, can bring its soil quality to levels comparable to those of the native area. We collected soil samples at 0-20 and 20-40 cm depths from transects of MZ and reference sites (R1 and R2). Principal component analysis showed the MDS for each soil depth. Permutational analysis of variance, in conjunction with Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling, exposed relationships between transects of areas. An additive non-linear factorial algorithm allowed SQI assessment. The results indicated a similar soil quality between transects of areas at 0-20 cm depth, whereas a dissimilarity at 20-40 cm. To sum up, reclamation activities allowed MZ-constructed Technosol to present a soil quality similar to native areas. The soil quality assessment at both depths offered insights into reclamation activities' immediate and long-term impacts on the Ferro-Carvão stream. This robust framework effectively monitors ecological restoration progress and guides future efforts in post-mining and post-dam collapse sites.


Assuntos
Mineração , Solo , Análise de Componente Principal , Algoritmos , Ecossistema
18.
Chemosphere ; 346: 140573, 2024 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38303389

RESUMO

Availability of raw materials in the chemical industry is related to the selection of the chemical processes in which they are used as well as to the efficiency, cost, and eventual evolution to more competitive dynamics of transformation technologies. In general terms however, any chemically transforming technology starts with the extraction, purification, design, manufacture, use, and disposal of materials. It is important to create a new paradigm towards green chemistry, sustainability, and circular economy in the chemical sciences that help to better employ, reuse, and recycle the materials used in every aspect of modern life. Electrochemistry is a growing field of knowledge that can help with these issues to reduce solid waste and the impact of chemical processes on the environment. Several electrochemical studies in the last decades have benefited the recovery of important chemical compounds and elements through electrodeposition, electrowinning, electrocoagulation, electrodialysis, and other processes. The use of living organisms and microorganisms using an electrochemical perspective (known as bioelectrochemistry), is also calling attention to "mining", through plants and microorganisms, essential chemical elements. New process design or the optimization of the current technologies is a major necessity to enhance production and minimize the use of raw materials along with less generation of wastes and secondary by-products. In this context, this contribution aims to show an up-to-date scenario of both environmental electrochemical and bioelectrochemical processes for the extraction, use, recovery and recycling of materials in a circular economy model.


Assuntos
Reciclagem , Gerenciamento de Resíduos , Eletroquímica , Mineração , Resíduos Sólidos , Tecnologia
19.
Chemosphere ; 352: 141348, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38340998

RESUMO

The Amazon region abounds in precious mineral resources including gold, copper, iron, and coltan. Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) poses a severe risk in this area due to considerable mercury release into the surrounding ecosystems. Nonetheless, the impact of mercury on both the overall microbiota and the microbial populations involved in mercury transformation is not well understood. In this study we evaluated microbial diversity in samples of soil, sediment and water potentially associated with mercury contamination in two localities (Taraira and Tarapacá) in the Colombian Amazon Forest. To this end, we characterized the bacterial community structure and mercury-related functions in samples from sites with a chronic history of mercury contamination which today have different levels of total mercury content. We also determined mercury bioavailability and mobility in the samples with the highest THg and MeHg levels (up to 43.34 and 0.049 mg kg-1, respectively, in Taraira). Our analysis of mercury speciation showed that the immobile form of mercury predominated in soils and sediments, probably rendering it unavailable to microorganisms. Despite its long-term presence, mercury did not appear to alter the microbial community structure or composition, which was primarily shaped by environmental and physicochemical factors. However, an increase in the relative abundance of merA genes was detected in polluted sediments from Taraira. Several Hg-responsive taxa in soil and sediments were detected in sites with high levels of THg, including members of the Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes and Chloroflexi phyla. The results suggest that mercury contamination at the two locations sampled may select mercury-adapted bacteria carrying the merA gene that could be used in bioremediation processes for the region.


Assuntos
Ecossistema , Mercúrio , Água/análise , Ouro/análise , Solo/química , Colômbia , Mercúrio/análise , Bactérias/genética , Mineração , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodos
20.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 31(12): 18549-18565, 2024 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38345688

RESUMO

High-intensity mining has become a major trend in future coal mining. However, it will unavoidably worsen the harm done to the natural environment of mining sites by coal mining, which is already prone to doing so. So, how may coal mining intensity (CMI) be decreased? Minimize the harm that coal mining causes to the environment and offer a theoretical basis for protecting the environment in mining sites. In order to achieve this, based on the existing literature on CMI, we first redefine the concept of CMI, analyze its influencing factors, propose an evaluation index system, and introduce the theory of set pair analysis (SPA) to build a quantitative evaluation model of CMI. We then propose an adjustment strategy for the CMI and conduct a verification analysis using the Halagou Coal Mine and Caojiatan Coal Mine as an example. The results show that the Halagou and Caojiatan Coal Mine belong to the higher-intensity mining stage. It is consistent with existing research. Moreover, the development trend of CMI in the Halagou Coal Mine is analyzed in conjunction with the set pair potential theory, and specific measures to reduce CMI are given, from the perspective of coal mining. It provides the basis for the source protection of the ecological environment in the mining area. Theoretically, this study can help both the quantitative assessment of mining intensity and the source protection of the mining ecological environment. Besides, it offers specific guidelines for building environmentally friendly mines.


Assuntos
Minas de Carvão , Minas de Carvão/métodos , Mineração , Meio Ambiente , Carvão Mineral/análise , China
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