title: Evaluation of Environmental Risk of Metal Contaminated Soils and Sediments Near Mining Sites in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
abstract: A total of sixteen composite soil and sediment samples were collected during the rainy and dry season in Asientos, Aguascalientes, Mexico, an area recently affected by increased mining operations. Physicochemical characterization showed that substrates were moderately to strongly calcareous with predominantly neutral to slightly alkaline pH, moderate to high cation-exchange capacity and high organic matter content. Due to these conditions, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn were not water leachable despite high concentrations; up to 105.3, 7052.8, 414.7 and 12,263.2 mg kg(-1) respectively. However, Cd and Pb were considered to be easily mobilizable as they were found predominantly associated with exchangeable and carbonate fractions, whereas Cu and Zn were found associated with Fe/Mn oxide and organic matter fractions. The results highlighted the influence of physicochemical substrate properties on the mobility of metals and its importance during the evaluation of the potential current and future risk metal contamination presents in affected areas.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Kerry Nigel
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Magdalena Samanta
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ramos Gómez
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alma Lilian
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Guerrero Barrera
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yamamoto Flores
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
authors.forename: Juan Armando
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Flores de la Torre
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Avenida Universidad #940, Aguascalientes, 20231, Aguascalientes, Mexico. fjavelar@correo.uaa.mx.
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Avelar González
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D008800:Mexico; D008906:Mining; D011891:Rain; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Contamination; Leaching; Metals; Mobility; Sediments; Soils