Trace elements biomonitoring in a historical mining district (les Malines, France).
The aim of this study is to investigate the trace elements (TE) contents of potential biomonitors in a historical Zn-Pb mining district: apiary products (honey, royal-jelly and beeswax) lichen and moss were sampled and analysed. In spite of high TE concentrations in mining waste and soil, apiary products are free of TE contamination originating from historical mining. Lichen/moss show high TE levels, which suggest atmospheric input of local dust. Pb isotopes analysis proved the origin of TE found in lichen/moss to be mainly mining waste. These results help discuss the choice of relevant organisms for monitoring TE in the environment and bring additional data on the potential impacts of brownfields left after mining, especially on food products from apiaries.
Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175 CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, F34293 Montpellier, France.
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Saunier
Guillaume
G
Losfeld
Rémi
R
Freydier
Claude
C
Grison
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D044002:Bryophyta / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005602:France; D008011:Lichens / Q000737:chemistry; D008906:Mining; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D014131:Trace Elements
Biomonitoring; Honeybees; Isotopes; Lichen; Moss; Trace elements