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Metal-contaminated potato crops and potential human health risk in Bolivian mining highlands

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Abstract

This study assessed metals in irrigation water, soil and potato crops impacted by mining discharges, as well as potential human health risk in the high desert near the historic mining center of Potosí, Bolivia. Metal concentrations were compared with international concentration limit guidelines. In addition, an ingested average daily dose and minimum risk level were used to determine the hazard quotient from potato consumption for adults and children. Irrigation water maximum concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in mining-impacted sites were elevated 20- to 1100-fold above international concentration limit guidelines. Agricultural soils contained total metal concentrations of As, Cd, Pb and Zn that exceeded concentration limits in agricultural soil guidelines by 22-, 9-, 3- and 12-fold, respectively. Potato tubers in mining-impacted sites had maximum concentrations of As, Cd, Pb and Zn that exceeded concentration limits in commercially sold vegetables by 9-, 10-, 16- and fourfold, respectively. Using conservative assumptions, hazard quotients (HQ) for potatoes alone were elevated for As, Cd and Pb among children (range 1.1–71.8), in nearly all of the mining-impacted areas; and for As and Cd among adults (range 1.2–34.2) in nearly all of the mining-impacted areas. Only one mining-impacted area had a Pb adult HQ for potatoes above 1 for adults. Toxic trace elements in a major regional dietary staple may be a greater concern than previously appreciated. Considering the multitude of other metal exposure routes in this region, it is likely that total HQ values for these metals may be substantially higher than our estimates.

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Abbreviations

AMD:

Acid mine drainage

MRL:

Minimal risk levels

ATSDR:

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

HQ:

Hazard quotient

EF:

Enrichment factor

NOAEL:

No-observed-adverse-effect level

ADD:

Average daily dose

UNFAO:

Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations

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Acknowledgements

Funding and support was provided by the University of Oklahoma Presidential International Travel Fellowship, the Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds at the University of Oklahoma, Saint Francis University Center for Watershed Research & Service, Clemson University Belle W. Baruch Institute of Coastal Ecology and Forest Science, Centro de Investigación Minero Ambiental (CIMA) and the Universidad Autónoma Tomas Frías (UATF). We thank Professors Freddy Llanos and Franz Mamani of UATF as well as Afnan Agramont and Ruben Mamani of Engineers In Action for critical support. We would also like to thank Dr. Vernon Chinchilli at Penn State University for his statistical analysis assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias y Recursos GeoAgroAmbientales (CENIGAA), Cra 5 No. 10-38 Oficina 203, Neiva, Huila, Colombia

    Alan E. Garrido

  2. Saint Francis University Environmental Engineering Program, Center for Watershed Research & Service, 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA, 15940, USA

    William H. J. Strosnider

  3. Epidemiology Division, Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Mail Code CH69, Hershey, PA, 17033, USA

    Robin Taylor Wilson

  4. Gobierno Autónomo del Departamento de Potosí, Secretaría de Minería y Metalurgia, Plaza Simón Bolívar Edificio IV, Centenario Piso II, Potosí, Bolivia

    Janette Condori

  5. Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science, University of Oklahoma, 202 W. Boyd St., Norman, OK, 73019, USA

    Robert W. Nairn

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  1. Alan E. Garrido
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Correspondence to Alan E. Garrido.

Appendix

Appendix

See Tables 8, 9 and 10.

Table 8 Summary of RfDs for toxic metals by chronic ingestion
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Table 9 EF in rural communities around Potosí, Bolivia
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Table 10 ADD values for toxic metals in Potosí, Bolivia (mg/kg/day)
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Garrido, A.E., Strosnider, W.H.J., Wilson, R.T. et al. Metal-contaminated potato crops and potential human health risk in Bolivian mining highlands. Environ Geochem Health 39, 681–700 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-017-9943-4

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