Arsenic contamination and potential health risk implications at an abandoned tungsten mine, southern China.
In an extensive environmental study, field samples, including soil, water, rice, vegetable, fish, human hair and urine, were collected at an abandoned tungsten mine in Shantou City, southern China. Results showed that arsenic (As) concentration in agricultural soils ranged from 3.5 to 935 mg kg(-1) with the mean value of 129 mg kg(-1). In addition, As concentration reached up to 325 microg L(-1) in the groundwater, and the maximum As concentration in local food were 1.09, 2.38 and 0.60 mg kg(-1) for brown rice, vegetable and fish samples, respectively, suggesting the local water resource and food have been severely contaminated with As. Health impact monitoring data revealed that As concentrations in hair and urine samples were up to 2.92 mg kg(-1) and 164 microg L(-1), respectively, indicating a potential health risk among the local residents. Effective measurements should be implemented to protect the local community from the As contamination in the environment.
Liu
Chuan-ping
CP
Guangdong Public Laboratory of Environmental Science & Technology, Guangdong Institute of Eco-Environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangzhou 510650, China.
Luo
Chun-ling
CL
Gao
Yun
Y
Li
Fang-bai
FB
Lin
Lan-wen
LW
Wu
Chang-an
CA
Li
Xiang-dong
XD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008906:Mining; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012423:Rural Health; D014414:Tungsten / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic; D014414:Tungsten