Leaching of Metals and Metalloids from Hydrothermal Ore Particulates and Their Effects on Marine Phytoplankton.

ABSTRACT: Seafloor massive sulfide deposits have attracted much interest as mineral resources. Therefore, the potential environmental impacts of full-scale mining should be considered. In this study, we focused on metal and metalloid contamination that could be triggered by accidental leakage and dispersion of hydrothermal ore particulates from mining vessels into surface seawater. We determined the leaching potential of metals and metalloids from four hydrothermal ores collected from the Okinawa Trough into aerobic seawater and then evaluated the toxic effects of ore leachates on a phytoplankton species, Skeletonema marinoi-dohrnii complex, which is present ubiquitously in the ocean. Large amounts of metals and metalloids were released from the ground hydrothermal ores into seawater w

SUBMITTER: Fuchida S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6044885 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature