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[A method for assessing health risks in mining sites]
J Mejía1, L Carrizales, V M Rodríguez
1Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, México.
Objective:
Considering the health risk associated with mining areas, in this work a methodology for the health assessment of this kind of hazardous sites is proposed.
Material And Methods:
The methodology includes a toxicological assessment, an environmental monitoring of metals, and the exposure assessment of the high risk population. The scheme was evaluated in the mining area of Villa de la Paz, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The toxicological studies were done in rats treated with mining waste, biomarkers of effect for liver and central nervous tissue were analyzed. Metals levels in surface soil, household dust and water were studied. Finally, urinary arsenic was quantified in children.
Results:
Neurotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of the mining waste were shown in rats. Then, arsenic and lead levels were analyzed in surface soil, household dust, and water. In all three media, exposure points, heavily contaminated with both metals, were localized. Finally, high levels of urinary arsenic were found in children living in the vicinity of the mine.
Conclusions:
Taking into account all these results, the Mexican authorities concluded that a high health risk is present in Villa de la Paz, and a remediation program is in progress.