Ecotoxicity of Mine Tailings: Unrehabilitated Versus Rehabilitated.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol
; 100(5): 702-707, 2018 May.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-29536120
ABSTRACT
Earthworms are bioindicators of soil pollution. The ecotoxicity of tailings from selected gold mines in South Africa was investigated utilizing Eisenia andrei bioassays and biomarkers. Samples were obtained from unrehabilitated, rehabilitated and naturally vegetated sites. Biomass, neutral red retention time (NRRT), survival and reproduction were assessed using standardized protocols. Earthworm biomass, NRRT and reproductive success in rehabilitated tailings (comparable to naturally vegetated site) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in unrehabilitated tailings. In addition, significantly lower (p < 0.05) body tissue concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu and Ni contents were found in the rehabilitated tailings compared to the unrehabilitated. Further, significantly lower (p < 0.05) soil Mn and Zn concentrations were obtained in unrehabilitated tailings than the rehabilitated and naturally vegetated sites. Overall, reduced ecotoxicity effects were confirmed in rehabilitated compared to unrehabilitated tailings. This suggests that rehabilitation as a post-mining restorative strategy has strong positive influence on mine tailings.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Poluentes do Solo
/
Monitoramento Ambiental
/
Recuperação e Remediação Ambiental
/
Mineração
Limite:
Animals
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol
Ano de publicação:
2018
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
África do Sul