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Lead speciation, bioaccessibility and source attribution in Missouri's Big River watershed
Matthew Noerpel1, Michael Pribil2, Danny Rutherford2
1United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 5995 Center Hill Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio, 45224, United States.
Applied Geochemistry : Journal of the International Association of Geochemistry and Cosmochemistry
|January 11, 2021
Summary
Mine tailings in Southeast Missouri are the primary source of lead contamination in the Big River. This contamination impacts soil, sediments, and public health, with lead bioaccessibility increasing downstream.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Geochemistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Intensive mining in Southeast Missouri Lead District created legacy issues.
- Lead-contaminated soil, mine tailings, and elevated childhood blood lead levels are present.
- Previous studies have not definitively identified the primary source of riverine lead contamination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pinpoint the source of lead contamination in the Big River.
- To assess the environmental risks associated with historical mining activities.
- To inform public health risk evaluations regarding lead exposure.
Main Methods:
- Isotopic analysis of lead from various potential sources and river downstream.
- Geochemical analysis of lead concentrations in soil and sediments.
- In-vitro bioaccessibility assay (IVBA) to determine lead bioavailability.
Main Results:
- Isotopic signatures confirmed mine tailings as the primary lead source.
- Lead concentrations and mineralized forms (galena) decreased downstream.
- Adsorbed lead increased downstream, correlating with higher in-vitro bioaccessibility.
Conclusions:
- Mine tailings are the dominant source of Big River lead contamination.
- Lead speciation significantly influences its bioavailability and potential health risks.
- Understanding lead source and speciation is crucial for effective environmental risk management.
