Elemental contamination of an open-pit mining area in the Peruvian Andes

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dc.contributor.authorBianchini, Fen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPascali, Gen_AU
dc.contributor.authorCampo, Aen_AU
dc.contributor.authorOrecchio, Sen_AU
dc.contributor.authorBonsignore, Ren_AU
dc.contributor.authorBlandino, Pen_AU
dc.contributor.authorPietrini, Pen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-10T00:48:40Zen_AU
dc.date.available2017-05-10T00:48:40Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2014-01-21en_AU
dc.date.statistics2017-05-10en_AU
dc.description.abstractNew technologies and higher prices of raw materials have promoted the expansion of mining activity throughout the world; if not properly regulated, this activity can lead to contamination of the local and regional environment. The city of Cerro de Pasco is located close to a large open-pit mine and in recent years, several reports have provided evidence of environmental contamination and related health problems. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the contamination in fluvial water, sediments and biological fluids from this area. The collective results show elevated metal and metalloid concentrations in rivers and sediments, especially in the areas downstream of the mine. For instance, Pb concentration in rivers downstream of the mine was 4.451 mg/L, while it was 0.037 mg/L upstream of the mine. Sediments also show higher concentration of metals and metalloids in the areas under the influence of the mine. Concentrations of elements in human blood were measured in the population of Paragsha, a village close to the mine. Analysis of the blood samples revealed elevated levels of metals and metalloids, particularly Pb, Cr, Al, Ni and Mn. All of the studied population showed blood concentrations of Al, Cr and Ni higher than those recommended by the WHO. The high concentration of elements found in the blood of the population could be related to the high concentration in the surrounding water sources, but further studies are required to determine the exact sources of exposure to these metals and metalloids. © 2014, Islamic Azad University (IAU).en_AU
dc.identifier.citationBianchini, F., Pascali, G., Campo, A., Orecchio, S., Bonsignore, R., Blandino, P., & Pietrini, P. (2015). Elemental contamination of an open-pit mining area in the Peruvian Andes. International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 12(3), 1065-1074. doi:10.1007/s13762-013-0493-8en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc8183en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1735-2630en_AU
dc.identifier.issue3en_AU
dc.identifier.journaltitleInternational Journal of Environmental Science and Technologyen_AU
dc.identifier.pagination1065-1074en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13762-013-0493-8en_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/8687en_AU
dc.identifier.volume12en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherSpringer Linken_AU
dc.subjectElectron microscopyen_AU
dc.subjectBiological accumulationen_AU
dc.subjectMetalsen_AU
dc.subjectWateren_AU
dc.subjectSedimentsen_AU
dc.subjectBlooden_AU
dc.titleElemental contamination of an open-pit mining area in the Peruvian Andesen_AU
dc.typeJournal Articleen_AU
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