Oxidative weathering decreases bioaccessibility of toxic metal(loid)s in PM₁₀ emissions from sulfide mine tailings.

ABSTRACT: Environmental contamination from legacy mine-waste deposits is a persistent problem due to the long history of hard-rock mining. Sulfide ore deposits can contain elevated levels of toxic metal(loid)s that, when mobilized by weathering upon O₂ and H₂O infusion, can result in groundwater contamination. Dry-climate and lack of vegetative cover result in near-surface pedogenic processes that produce fine-particulate secondary minerals that can be translocated as geo-dusts leading to ingestion or inhalation exposure in nearby communities. In this study, in vitro bioassays were combined with synchrotron-based x-ray spectroscopy and diffraction to determine the potential risk for toxic element release from dust (PM₁₀) samples into biofluid simulants. PM

SUBMITTER: Thomas AN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6191178 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature