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10:05
Integrated Field Lysimetry and Porewater Sampling for Evaluation of Chemical Mobility in Soils and Established Vegetation
Published on: July 4, 2014
Natural decrease of dissolved arsenic in a small stream receiving drainages of abandoned silver mines in Guanajuato,
Yann Rene Ramos Arroyo1, Alma Hortensia Serafín Muñoz, Eunice Yanez Barrientos
1Department of Geomatic and Hydraulic Engineering, University of Guanajuato, L de Retana 5, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
|September 3, 2013
Summary
Abandoned mine drainage contaminates local streams with arsenic. Self-purification occurs as arsenic (As) oxidizes and binds to iron and manganese, reducing concentrations downstream.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Water Quality
Background:
- Abandoned mines can release hazardous substances into the environment.
- Arsenic contamination in water bodies poses significant ecological and health risks.
- Understanding arsenic's fate in aquatic systems is crucial for remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate arsenic release from abandoned mines.
- To track the fate and transformation of arsenic in a local stream.
- To identify factors influencing arsenic speciation and removal.
Main Methods:
- Field sampling of mine drainage and stream water.
- Analysis of physicochemical parameters (pH, ORP).
- Determination of dissolved metals/metalloids and arsenic species (As(III), As(V)).
- Multivariate statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- A mine drainage acted as a point source, with initial dissolved arsenic at 309 μg L⁻¹.
- Arsenic concentrations rapidly decreased to 10.5 μg L⁻¹ within 2 km downstream.
- Oxidation of As(III) to As(V) was promoted by increased pH and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP).
- Arsenic removal was linked to As(V) adsorption onto secondary solids containing iron, manganese, and calcium.
Conclusions:
- Abandoned mine drainage is a significant source of arsenic pollution.
- Natural attenuation processes, including oxidation and precipitation, contribute to arsenic removal in streams.
- Management strategies should consider the geochemical factors governing arsenic fate.
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