Abstract
The environmental impact of arsenic and heavy metals on a 105 km2 area of the historical and recent mining site of Villa de la Paz-Matehuala, San Luis Potosí (Mexico) was evaluated. Results of soil samples reported concentrations between 19–17 384 mg kg-1 As, 15–7200 mg kg-1 Cu, 31–3450 mg kg-1 Pb and 26–6270 mg kg-1 Zn, meanwhile, the concentrations in dry stream sediment samples were found to vary between 29–28 600 mg kg-1 As, 50–2160 mg kg-1 Pb, 71–2190 mg kg-1 Cu, and 98–5940 mg kg-1 Zn. The maximum arsenic concentration in pluvial water storage ponds (265 μg L-1), near the main potential sources of pollution, exceed by 5 times the Mexican drinking water quality guideline (50 μg L-1). The arsenic concentrations in water storage ponds and stream sediments decrease as distance from the potential sources increase. A special case is the `Cerrito Blanco' area located 5 km east of Matehuala, where the highest arsenic concentration in water was found (>5900 μg L-1), exceeding by 100 times the established guideline, thus representing a severe health risk. The results suggest that arsenic and heavy metal dispersion from their pollution sources (historical and active tailings impoundments, waste rock dumps and historical slag piles), is mainly associated in this site with: (1) fluvial transportation of mine waste through streams that cross the area in W–E direction; and (2) aeolian transportation of mineral particles in SW–NE direction. Finally, control measures for pollution routes and remediation measures of the site are proposed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Institute of Mining Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers (AIMMPE): 1986, Minas Mexicanas, Tomo 2, Society of Economic Geologist, Mexico, pp. 142.
American Society of Testing and Material (ASTM): 1997, Standards on Environmental Sampling, American Society for Testing Materials, Baltimore, MD, U.S., pp. 1009.
Aragón, P. A., Torres, V. G., Monroy, F. M., Luszczeewski, K. A. and Leyva, R. R.: 2000, 'Scanning electron microscope and statistical analysis of suspended heavy metal particles in San Luis Potosí, Mexico', Atmos. Environ. 34, 4103–4112.
Armienta, M. A., Villaseñor, G., Rodríguez, R., Ongley, L. K. and Mango, H.: 2001, 'The role of arsenic-bearing rocks in groundwater pollution at Zimapán Valley, México', Environ. Geol. 40, 571–581.
Blight, G. E. and Da Costa, F. A.: 2001, 'On the Mechanics of Wind Erosion from Tailings Dams', in Tailings and Mine Waste' 01, Balkema, Rotterdam, pp. 189–196.
Buchanan, N., Mango, H., Lini, A. and Abbott, M.: 1997, 'Using Oxygen Isotopes to Constrain the Sources of Arsenic Contaminated Ground Water in Zimapán,Mexico', Study Report, Department of Geology,Bates College, Lewiston, ME, pp. 8.
Castro, J.: 1995, 'Umweltauswirkungen des Bergbaus im semiariden Gebiet von Santa María de la Paz, Mexiko', Ph.D. Thesis, Instituts für Petrographie und Geochemie, Universität Karlsruhe, pp. 155.
Castro, L. J., Kramar, U. and Puchelt, H.: 1997, '200 years of mining activities at La Paz/San Luis Potosí/Mexico-Consequences for environment and geochemical exploration', J. Geochem. Explor. 58, 81–91.
Chávez, L., Alarcón, F. and Parga, J.: 1999, 'Mining Exploration Potential of VMS and Carbonatehosted Polymetallic Deposits in Central Mexico', in J. L. Jambor (ed.), VMS and Carbonatehosted Polymetallic Deposits of CentralMexico, British Columbia and Yukon Chamber ofMines, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, pp. 1–13.
Danielsson, A., Cat, I., Carman, R. and Rahm, L.: 1999, 'Spatial clustering of metals in the sediments of the Skagerrak/Kattegat', Appl. Geochem. 14, 689–706.
Díaz Barriga, F.: 1999, Metodología de Identificación y Evaluación de Riesgos para la Salud en Sitios Contaminados, Centro Panamericano de Ingeniería Sanitaria y Ciencias del Ambiente. Lima, Peru, pp. 42.
Facchinelli, A., Sacchi, E. and Mallen, L.: 2001, 'Multivariate statistical and GIS-based approach to identify heavy metal sources in soils', Environ. Pollut. 114, 313–324.
Fernandez-Turiel, J. L., Aceñolaza, P., Medina, M. E., Llorens, J. F. and Sardi, F.: 2001, 'Assessment of smelter impact area using surface soils and plants', Environ. Geochem. Health 23, 65–78.
Hammarstrom, J.M., Kotlyar, B. B., Theodore, T. G., Elliot, J. E., John, D. A., Doebrich, J. L., Nash, J. T., Carlson, R. R., Lee, G. K., Livo, K. E. and Klein, D. P.: 1995, 'Cu, Au, and Zn-Pb Skarn Deposits', in E. A. du Bray (ed.), Preliminary Compilation of Descriptive Geoenvironmental Mineral Deposit Models, U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 95-831, pp. 90–111.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI): 1979, Matehuala F-14-A-25, 1:50 000 scale, Edafologic Chart, Mexico.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI): 1982, Real de Catorce F-14-A-24, 1:50 000 scale, Edafologic Chart, Mexico.
Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática (INEGI): 2000, 'La Minería en México', INEGI, México, pp. 161. http://www.inegi.gob.mx/difusion/espanol/productos/paginas/fprodyser.html/.
Jung, M. C.: 2001, 'Heavy metal contamination of soils and waters in and around the Imcheon Au-Ag mine, Korea', Appl. Geochem. 16, 1369–1375.
Kempton, H. and Atkins, D.: 2000, 'Delayed Environmental Impacts from Mining in Semi-Arid Climates', in Proceedings from the 5th International Conference on Acid Rock Drainage ICARD 2000, Society for Mining Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. Denver, CO, U.S.A., May 2000, pp. 1299–1308.
Kim, M., Nriagu, J. and Haack, S.: 2000, 'Carbonate ions and arsenic dissolution by groundwater', Environ. Sci. Technol. 34, 3094–3100.
Leblanc, M., Morales, J. A., Borrego, J. and Elbaz-Poilichet, F.: 2000, '4500 year-old mining pollution in southwestern Spain: Long-term implications for modern mining pollution', Econ. Geol. 95, 655–662.
Lee, C., Chon, H. and Jung, M.: 2001, 'Heavy metal contamination in the vicinity of the Daduk Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mine in Korea', Appl. Geochem. 16, 1377–1386.
Manas, R. F.: 2000, Arsenic Profile, American Metal Market web site. http://www.amm.com/ref/arsen.htm/.
Marqués, M. J., Martínez-Conde, E., Rovira, J. V. and Ordoñez, S.: 2001, 'Heavy metals pollution of aquatic ecosystems in the vicinity of a recently closed underground lead-zinc mine (Basque Country, Spain)', Environ. Geol. 40, 1125–1137.
Mejía, J., Carrizales, L., Rodríguez, V. M., Jiménez-Capdeville, M. E., Díaz-Barriga, F.: 1999, 'Un método para la evaluación para la salud en zonas mineras', Salud PÚblica de México 42, 132–140.
Megaw, P.: 1999, 'The High-Temperature Ag-Pb-Zn-(Cu) Carbonate-Replacement Deposits of Central Mexico', in J. L. Jambor (ed.), VMS and Carbonate-Hosted Polymetallic Deposits of Central Mexico, British Columbia and Yukon Chamber of Mines, Vancouver, B.C., Canada, pp. 25–44.
Nickson, R. T., McArthur, J. M., Ravenscroft, P., Burguess, W. G. and Ahmed, K. M.: 2000, 'Mechanism of arsenic release to groundwater, Bangladesh and West Bengal', Appl. Geochem. 15, 403–413.
Nriagu, J. O. and Pacyna J. M.: 1988, 'Quantitative assessment of worldwide contamination of air, water and soils by trace metals', Nature 333, 134–139.
Ongley, L. K., Armienta, M. A., Heggeman, K., Lathrop, A. S., Mango, H., Miller, W. and Pickelner, S.: 2001, 'Arsenic removal from contaminated water by the Soyatal Formation, Zimapán Mining District, Mexico-a potential low-cost low-tech remediation system', Geochemistry: Exploration, Environment, Analysis 1, 23–21.
Sanchez, V. M. and Hiskey, J. B.: 1991, 'Electrochemical behavior of arsenopyrite in alkaline media', Mining Metall. Proc., 1–6.
Secretaría de Energía, Minas e Industria Paraestatal (SEMIP): 1992, Monografía Geológico-Minera del Estado de San Luis Potosí, Consejo de Recursos Minerales, Mexico, pp. 219.
Smedley, P. L. and Kinniburgh, D. G., 2002, 'A review of the source, behavior and distribution of arsenic in natural waters', Appl. Geochem. 17, 517–568.
Taschereau, C. and Fytas, K.: 2000, 'Arsenic in mine tailings-the Chimo Mine case study', Internat. J. Surf. Mining, Reclam. Environ. 14, 337–347.
Ullrich, M. S., Ramsey, H. M. and Helios-Rybicka, E.: 1999, 'Total and exchangeable concentrations of heavy metals in soil near Bytom, an area of Pb/Zn mining and smelting in Upper Silesia, Poland', Appl. Geochem. 14, 187–196.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA): 1990, Record of Decision (ROD) Abstract ROD Number: EPA/ROD/R08-90/028 ROD Date: 03/30/90 Site: Whitewood Creek.EPA ID Number: SDD980717136. Location: Whitewood, SD. Operable Unit: 01 Environmental Protection Agency. United States.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA): 2001, 'Residential Lead Hazard Standards-TSCA Section 403'. Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. www.epa.gov/lead/leadhaz.htm/.
Williams, M.: 2001, 'Arsenic in mine water: An international study', Environ. Geol. 40, 267–278.
Yong, R. N.: 1999, 'In situ Geochemical Aquifer Intervention for Remediation of Arsenic-polluted Aquifers in Bangladesh and west Bengal', Project proposal submitted to Science and Technology Division, Commonwealth Science Council, London, pp. 27. http://www.commonwealthknowledge.net/Subnetw/Perera/arsenopro.htm/.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Razo, I., Carrizales, L., Castro, J. et al. Arsenic and Heavy Metal Pollution of Soil, Water and Sediments in a Semi-Arid Climate Mining Area in Mexico. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution 152, 129–152 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WATE.0000015350.14520.c1
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:WATE.0000015350.14520.c1