Challenges with tracing the fate and speciation of mine-derived metals in turbid river systems: implications for bioavailability

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorCresswell, Ten_AU
dc.contributor.authorSmith, REWen_AU
dc.contributor.authorNugegoda, Den_AU
dc.contributor.authorSimpson, SLen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2014-01-15T03:10:59Zen_AU
dc.date.available2014-01-15T03:10:59Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2013-11-01en_AU
dc.date.statistics2014-01-15en_AU
dc.description.abstractThe fast-flowing and highly turbid Lagaip River (0.5-10 g/L suspended solids) in the central highlands of Papua New Guinea receives mine-derived metal inputs in both dissolved and particulate forms. Nearest the mine, metal concentrations in suspended solids were 360, 9, 90, 740 and 1,300 mg/kg for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, while dissolved concentrations were 2.7, 0.6, 3.1, 0.1 and 25 mu g/L, respectively. This creates a significant metal exposure source for organisms nearer the mine. However, because the Lagaip River is diluted by a large number of tributaries, the extent to which mine-derived metals may affect biota in the lower catchments is uncertain. To improve our understanding of the forms of potentially bioavailable metals entering the lower river system, we studied the partitioning and speciation of metals within the Lagaip River system. Dissolved and particulate metal concentrations decreased rapidly downstream of the mine due to dilution from tributaries. As a portion of the particulate metal concentrations, the more labile dilute acid-extractable forms typically comprised 10-30 % for As and Pb, 50-75 % for Cu and Zn, and 50-100 % for Cd. Only dissolved Cd, Cu and Zn remained elevated relative to the non-mine-impacted tributaries (< 0.03, 0.5 and 0.3 mu g/L), but the concentrations did not appreciably change with increasing dilution downriver. This indicated that release of Cd, Cu and Zn was likely occurring from the more labile metal phases of the mine-derived particulates. Chelex-labile metal analyses and speciation modelling indicated that dissolved copper and lead were largely non-labile and likely complexed by naturally occurring organic ligands, while dissolved cadmium and zinc were predominantly present in labile forms. The study confirmed that mine-derived particulates may represent a significant source of dissolved metals in the lower river system; however, comparison with water quality guidelines indicates the low concentrations would not adversely affect aquatic life.© 2013, Springeren_AU
dc.identifier.citationCresswell, T., Smith, R.E.W., Nugegoda, D., & Simpson, S.L. (2013). Challenges with tracing the fate and speciation of mine-derived metals in turbid river systems: implications for bioavailability. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 (11), 7803-7814. doi:10.1007/s11356-013-2066-2en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc5322en_AU
dc.identifier.issn0944-1344en_AU
dc.identifier.issue11en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleEnvironmental Science and Pollution Researchen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination7803-7814en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp:/dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2066-2en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/5136en_AU
dc.identifier.volume20en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherSpringeren_AU
dc.subjectExtractionen_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectFresh wateren_AU
dc.subjectZincen_AU
dc.subjectCopperen_AU
dc.subjectMetalsen_AU
dc.titleChallenges with tracing the fate and speciation of mine-derived metals in turbid river systems: implications for bioavailabilityen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
Files
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles