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The Influence of Phosphate Mining on the Chemical Composition of Annual Atmospheric Deposition in Catalão (GO) and Tapira (MG), Brazil

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Abstract

Brazil is an important country within the global mineral industry. The main reserves of phosphate rock in Brazil are contained in the states of Goiás and Minas Gerais, at the Catalão and Tapira cities, respectively. Atmospheric inputs due to the mining of phosphate rock may have various effects on human health in areas near these types of mines. Thus, this work evaluated the influence of phosphate mining on the chemical composition and annual atmospheric deposition in Catalão (GO) and Tapira (MG), Brazil. The pH of rainwater was 6.90 in Catalão and 6.80 in Tapira. The ionic concentrations (in μeq/L) at both study sites decreased in the following order: Ca2+ > Na+ > Mg2+ > K+ for cations and HCO3 − > NO3 − > SO4 2− > PO4 3− > F− > Cl− for anions. High Ca2+ content indicates that Ca2+ contributes to the neutralisation of the rainwater pH in both of the areas studied. The annual atmospheric deposition of NO3 − and SO4 2− can be attributed to the use of diesel-powered trucks in and around mining areas. Soil dust derived is responsible for the annual atmospheric deposition of Na+ and K+. Phosphate mining activities are the main source of the annual atmospheric deposition of PO4 3− and F−.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank FAPESP (Processes 2005/59203-1, 2006/54884-3, 2006/55477-2 and 2006/61208-4) for the financial support for this research. The authors would also like to thank Fosfertil S.A., currently Vale S.A., for the permission to access the phosphate mining areas for collection and analysis of rainwater in both study areas.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UNESP—Instituto de Geociências e Ciências Exatas (IGCE), Rio Claro, SP, Brazil

    Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição, Taise Litholdo, Rodrigo Braga Moruzzi, Guillermo Rafael Beltran Navarro & Letícia Hirata Godoy

  2. UNIFAL—Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia, Poços de Caldas, MG, Brazil

    Diego de Souza Sardinha

  3. Avenida 24-A, n. 1515, CEP 13506-900, Bela Vista, Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil

    Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição

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  1. Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição
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  2. Taise Litholdo
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  3. Diego de Souza Sardinha
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  4. Rodrigo Braga Moruzzi
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  5. Guillermo Rafael Beltran Navarro
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  6. Letícia Hirata Godoy
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Correspondence to Fabiano Tomazini da Conceição.

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Capsule abstract

The high Ca2+ content neutralises the pH of rainwater, with NO3 −, SO4 2−, PO4 3− and F− attributed to phosphate mining activities.

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da Conceição, F.T., Litholdo, T., de Souza Sardinha, D. et al. The Influence of Phosphate Mining on the Chemical Composition of Annual Atmospheric Deposition in Catalão (GO) and Tapira (MG), Brazil. Water Air Soil Pollut 227, 69 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-015-2731-9

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