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Natural Decrease of Dissolved Arsenic in a Small Stream Receiving Drainages of Abandoned Silver Mines in Guanajuato, Mexico

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Abstract

Arsenic release from the abandoned mines and its fate in a local stream were studied. Physicochemical parameters, metals/metalloids and arsenic species were determined. One of the mine drainages was found as a point source of contamination with 309 μg L−1 of dissolved arsenic; this concentration declined rapidly to 10.5 μg L−1 about 2 km downstream. Data analysis confirmed that oxidation of As(III) released from the primary sulfide minerals was favored by the increase of pH and oxidation reduction potential; the results obtained in multivariate approach indicated that self-purification of water was due to association of As(V) with secondary solid phase containing Fe, Mn, Ca.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support from National Council of Science and Technology, Mexico (CONACYT), Project 178553, is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemistry Department, University of Guanajuato, L de Retana 5, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Eunice Yanez Barrientos, Kazimierz Wrobel & Katarzyna Wrobel

  2. Department of Geomatic and Hydraulic Engineering, University of Guanajuato, L de Retana 5, 36000, Guanajuato, Mexico

    Yann Rene Ramos Arroyo, Alma Hortensia Serafín Muñoz & Irais Rodriguez Huerta

Authors
  1. Yann Rene Ramos Arroyo
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  2. Alma Hortensia Serafín Muñoz
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  3. Eunice Yanez Barrientos
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  4. Irais Rodriguez Huerta
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  5. Kazimierz Wrobel
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  6. Katarzyna Wrobel
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katarzyna Wrobel.

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Arroyo, Y.R.R., Muñoz, A.H.S., Barrientos, E.Y. et al. Natural Decrease of Dissolved Arsenic in a Small Stream Receiving Drainages of Abandoned Silver Mines in Guanajuato, Mexico. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 91, 539–544 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-013-1091-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-013-1091-7

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