Environmental Geochemistry and Health

, Volume 39, Issue 3, pp 681–700 | Cite as

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

  • Alan E. Garrido
  • William H. J. Strosnider
  • Robin Taylor Wilson
  • Janette Condori
  • Robert W. Nairn
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:
Accepted:

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.

Keywords

Acid mine drainage Agriculture Human health Metalloid exposure Rural community Hazard 

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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Notes

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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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Alan E. Garrido
    • 1
  • William H. J. Strosnider
    • 2
  • Robin Taylor Wilson
    • 3
  • Janette Condori
    • 4
  • Robert W. Nairn
    • 5
  1. 1.Centro de Investigación en Ciencias y Recursos GeoAgroAmbientales (CENIGAA)NeivaColombia
  2. 2.Saint Francis University Environmental Engineering ProgramCenter for Watershed Research & ServiceLorettoUSA
  3. 3.Epidemiology Division, Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State Cancer InstitutePennsylvania State University College of MedicineHersheyUSA
  4. 4.Gobierno Autónomo del Departamento de PotosíSecretaría de Minería y MetalurgiaPotosíBolivia
  5. 5.Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds, School of Civil Engineering and Environmental ScienceUniversity of OklahomaNormanUSA

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