Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Lead content in soils and native plants near an abandoned mine in a protected area of south-western Spain: an approach to determining the environmental risk to wildlife and livestock

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A study of the impact of an abandoned lead (Pb) mine (“Las Musas”), located in SW Spain, on the contamination of the surface soil and pastures in its vicinity revealed the presence of widely distributed, high levels of Pb contamination. The total Pb concentrations in soils sampled at distances from 3 to 998 m from the mine ranged between 129 and 1053 mg/kg, when it has been reported that non-polluted soils have concentrations of 29–40 mg/kg. These exceed the maximum tolerable levels in agricultural soils for the protection of environmental and human health as established in international and regional regulations. While the concentrations of potentially bioavailable Pb in the soils also surpassed the regulatory levels, the effective bioavailable fractions were low. The Pb concentrations measured in native plants ranged from 1.70 to 129 mg/kg dry weight, with Cynosurus echinatus, Philadelphus coronarius, and Fraxinus angustifolia being the species that bioaccumulated the greatest concentrations of this metal. Estimation of the environmental risk to wildlife and livestock grazing in the studied area showed no potential toxicity for these animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Abrahams P, Steigmajer J (2003) Soil ingestion by sheep grazing the metal enriched floodplain soils of mid-Wales. Environ Geochem Health 25(1):17–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Adriano DC (2001) Trace elements in terrestrial environments: biogeochemistry, bioavailability and risks of metals, 2nd edn. Springer-Verlag, New York, p 866

  • Agnieszka B, Tomasz C, Jerzy W (2014) Chemical properties and toxicity of soils contaminated by mining activity. Ecotoxicology 23:1234–1244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarenga PM, Araujo MF, Silva AL (2004) Elemental uptake and root-leaves transfer in Cistus ladanifer L. growing in a pyrite contaminated mining area (Aljustrel-Portugal). Water Air Soil Pollut 152:81–96

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarenga P, Palma P, de Varennes A, Cunha-Queda AC (2012) A contribution towards the risk assessment of soils from the São Domingos Mine (Portugal): Chemical, microbial and ecotoxicological indicators. Environ Pollut 161:50–56

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Alvarez-Ayuso E, Otones V, Murciego A, Garcia-Sanchez A, Santa Regina I (2012) Antimony, arsenic and lead distribution in soils and plants of an agricultural area impacted by former mining activities. Sci Total Environ 439:35–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ATSDR (2007) Toxicological profile for lead. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/. Accessed May 2018

  • Azharia AE, Rhoujjatia A, Hachimib ML, Ambrosic JP (2017) Pollution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the soil-plant system and the sediment-water column around a former Pb/Zn-mining area in NE Morocco. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 144:464–474

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM, Brooks RR (1989) Terrestrial higher plants which hyperaccumulate metallic elements-a review of their distribution, ecology and phytochemistry. Biorecovery 1:81–126

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakırdere S, Bölücek C, Yaman M (2016) Determination of contamination levels of Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Mn caused by former lead mining gallery. Environ Monit Assess 188:132

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Berglund M, Lind B, Sorensen S, Vahter M (2000) Impact of soil and dust lead on children’s blood lead in contaminated areas of Sweden. Arch Environ Health 55(2):93–97

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beyer W, Connnor E, Gerould S (1994) Estimates of soil ingestion by wildlife. J Wildl Manag 58(2):375–382

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bischoff K, Hillebrandt J, Erb HN, Thompson B, Johns S (2016) Comparison of blood and tissue lead concentrations from cattle with known lead exposure. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 33(10):1563–1569

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bori J, Valles B, Navarro A, Riva MC (2016) Geochemistry and environmental threats of soils surrounding an abandoned mercury mine. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:12941–12953

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bui AT, Nguyen HT, Nguyen MN, Tran TH, Vu TV, Nguyen CH, Reynolds HL (2016) Accumulation and potential health risks of cadmium, lead and arsenic in vegetables grown nearmining sites in Northern Vietnam. Environ Monit Assess 188(9):525

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cabała J, Zogała B, Dubiel R (2008) Geochemical and geophysical study of historical Zn–Pb ore processing waste dump areas (Southern Poland). Pol J Environ Stud 17(5):693–700

    Google Scholar 

  • Carranza J (2004) Ciervo – Cervus elaphus. In: Carrascal LM, Salvador A (eds) Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/. (in Spanish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Catalogo oficial de razas (2018) Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente. Gobierno de España. https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/temas/zootecnia/razas-ganaderas/razas/catalogo/ Accesed July-2018. (in Spanish)

  • CCME (2006) Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines: Canadian Soil. Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health. Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment. http://ceqg-rcqe.ccme.ca/download/en/342/. Accessed July-2018.

  • Chen M, Lu W, Hou Z, Zhang Y, Jiang X, Wu J (2017) Heavy metal pollution in soil associated with a large-scale cyanidation gold mining region in southeast of Jilin, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:3084–3096

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cowan V, Blakley B (2016) Acute lead poisoning in western Canadian cattle - a 16-year retrospective study of diagnostic case records. Can Vet J 57(4):421–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Crilly J, Kinsella AJ, Johnson MS, Brady E (1998) Evaluation of blood and tissue lead as estimators of exposure in sheep. Ir J Agr Food Res 37:17–28

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davies BE (1983) A graphical estimation of the normal lead content of some British soils. Geoderma 29:67–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • DECRETO 136/2004 de 2 de septiembre, por el que se declara el Corredor Ecológico y de Biodiversidad del Río Bembézar. Published in the Diario Oficial de Extremadura (DOE) 14/09/2004. (in Spanish)

  • DECRETO 49/2015 de 30 de marzo, por el que se regula el régimen jurídico de los suelos contaminados en la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura. Published in the Diario Oficial de Extremadura (DOE) 06/04/2015. (in Spanish)

  • Dudka S, Adriano DC (1997) Environmental impacts of metal ore mining and processing: a review. J Environ Qual 26:590–602

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • EC 629/2008 Commission regulation (EC) no. 629/2008 of 2 July 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs.

  • Efroymson RA, Sample BE, Suter GW (2001) Uptake of inorganic chemicals from soil by plant leaves: regressions of field data. Environ Toxicol Chem 20(11):2561–2571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farago ME, Cole M, Xiao X, Vaz MC (1992) Preliminary assessment of metal bioavailability to plants in the Neves Corvo area of Portugal. Chem Speciat Bioavailab 4(1):19–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez-Llario P (2014) In: Salvador A, Luque-Larena JJ (eds) Jabalí – Sus scrofa. En: Enciclopedia Virtual de los Vertebrados Españoles. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/. (in Spanish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira da Silva E, Freire Avila P, Salgueiro AR, Candeias C, Garcia Pereira H (2013) Quantitative–spatial assessment of soil contamination in S. Francisco de Assis due to mining activity of the Panasqueira mine (Portugal). Environ Sci Pollut Res 20:7534–7549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ford KL, Beyer WN (2014) Soil criteria to protect terrestrial wildlife and open-range livestock from metal toxicity at mining sites. Environ Monit Assess 186:1899–1905

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fries GF, Marrow GS, Snow PA (1982) Soil ingestion by swine as a route of contaminant exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 1(3):201–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fuentes JL (1969) La alimentación de los cerdos. Hojas Divulgadoras del Ministerio de Agricultura n° 14.

  • Gallardo A, Rodriguez-Saucedo JJ, Covelo F, Fernandez-Ales R (2000) Soil nitrogen heterogeneity in a Dehesa ecosystem. Plant Soil 222:71–82

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Fernandez AJ (1994) Impregnacion por plomo y cadmio en aves silvestres de la Region de Murcia. Dissertation. University of Murcia (Spain). (in Spanish)

  • Gonzalez V, Garcia I, del Moral F, de Haro S, Sanchez JA, Simon M (2012) Spreading of pollutants from alkaline mine drainage. Rodalquilar mining district (SE Spain). J Environ Manag 106:69–74

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goovaerts P (1997) Geostatistics for natural resources evaluation. Oxford University Press, United States

  • Goyer RA, Clarkson TW (2001) Toxic effects of metals. In: Klaassen CD (ed) Casarett and Doull’s Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons, sixth edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 811–867

    Google Scholar 

  • Harter RD (1983) Effect of soil pH on adsorption of lead, copper, zinc, and nickel. Soil Sci Soc Am J 7:47–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henriques FS, Fernandes JC (1991) Metal uptake and distribution in rush (Juncus conglomeratus L.) plants growing in pyrites mine tailings at Lousal, Portugal. Sci Total Environ 102:253–260

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hooda PS, Alloway BJ (1998) Cadmium and lead sorption behaviour of selected English and Indian soils. Geoderma 84:121–134

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Igwe O, Adepehin EJ, Iwuanyanwu C, Una CO (2014) Risks associated with the mining of Pb–Zn minerals in some parts of the Southern Benue trough, Nigeria. Environ Monit Assess 186:3755–3765

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • JRC (2018) Soil atlas of Europe. European Commission — joint research center. http://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/content/soil-atlas-europe. Accessed June-2018.

  • Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (2001) Trace elements in soils and plants, 3rd edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Koleli N, Demir A, Eke M, Cakmak O (2010) Accumulation of heavy metals in some plants grown on serpentine soils of Mersin, Turkey. In: 2nd International Symposium on Sustainable Development, June 8-9 2010, Sarajevo.

  • Kristensen LJ, Taylor MP (2016) Unravelling a ‘miner’s myth’ that environmental contamination in mining towns is naturally occurring. Environ Geochem Health 38:1015–1027

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Leita L, Enne G, De Nobili M, Baldini M, Segui P (1991) Heavy metal bioaccumulation in lamb and sheep bredins melting and mining areas of S. W. Sardinia (Italy). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 46:887–893

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levonmäki M, Hartikainen H (2007) Efficiency of liming in controlling the mobility of lead in shooting range soils as assessed by different experimental approaches. Sci Total Environ 388:1–7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Levy DB, Redente EF, Upho GD (1999) Evaluating the phytotoxicity of Pb-Zn tailings to big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii vitman) and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.). Soil Sci 164:363–375

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li X, Thornton I (2001) Chemical partitioning of trace and major elements in soils contaminated bymining and smelting activities. Appl Geochem 16:1693–1706

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ljung K, Oomen A, Duits M, Selinus O, Berglund M (2007) Bioaccessibility of metals in urban playground soils. J Environ Sci Health Part A 42:1241–1250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marinho CH, Giarratano E, Esteves JL, Narvarte MA, Gil MN (2017) Hazardous metal pollution in a protected coastal area from Northern Patagonia (Argentina). Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:6724–6735

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayland H, Shewmaker G, Bull R (1977) Soil ingestion by cattle grazing crested wheatgrass. J Range Manag 30(4):264–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mbaria JM, Ochodo C, Nguta JM (2013) Forensic case of lead poisoning from a battery manufacturing company in Nakuru, Kenya. Jpn J Vet Res 61:S64–S66

    Google Scholar 

  • Mielke HW, Reagan PL (1999) The urban environment and children’s health: soils as an integrator of lead, zinc, and cadmium in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Environ Res 81(A):117–129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Milton A, Cooke JA, Johnson MS (2003) Accumulation of lead, zinc, and cadmium in a wild population of Clethrionomys glareolus from an abandoned lead mine. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 44:405–411

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mohammed I, Abdu N (2014) Horizontal and vertical distribution of lead, cadmium, and zinc in farmlands around a lead-contaminated goldmine in Zamfara, Northern Nigeria. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 66:295–302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Moreno-Jiménez E, García-Gómez C, Oropesa AL, Esteban E, Haro A, Carpena-Ruiz R, Tarazona JV, Peñalosa JM, Fernández MD (2011) Screening risk assessment tools for assessing the environmental impact in an abandoned pyritic mine in Spain. Sci Total Environ 409:692–703

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Müller G (1969) Index of geoaccumulation in sediments of the Rhine River. Geol J 2:108–118

    Google Scholar 

  • NRC (2005) Mineral tolerance of animals, 2nd edn. National Academy, Washington, DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Palma P, López-Orozco R, Lourinha C, Oropesa AL, Novais MH, Alvarenga P (2019) Assessment of the environmental impact of an abandonedmine using an integrative approach: A case-study of the “Las Musas” mine (Extremadura, Spain). Sci Total Environ 659:84–94

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pareja-Carrera J, Mateo R, Rodríguez-Estival J (2014) Lead (Pb) in sheep exposed to mining pollution: Implications for animal and human health. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 108:210–216

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reglero MM, Monsalve-González L, Taggart MA, Mateo R (2008) Transfer of metals to plants and red deer in an old lead mining area in Spain. Sci Total Environ 406(1-2):287–297

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reglero MM, Taggart MA, Monsalve-González L, Mateo R (2009) Heavy metal exposure in large game from a lead mining area: effects on oxidative stress and fatty acid composition in liver. Environ Pollut 157(4):1388–1395

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Regulation 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency. Published in the Official Journal of the European Union 29/05/2007.

  • Rodrigues SM, Pereira ME, Duarte AC, Römkens PFAM (2012) Soil–plant–animal transfer models to improve soil protection guidelines: A case study from Portugal. Environ Int 39:27–37

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez L, Ruiz E, Alonso-Azcarate J, Rincon J (2009) Heavy metal distribution and chemical speciation in tailings and soils around a Pb–Zn mine in Spain. J Environ Manag 90:1106–1116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Estival J, Barasona JA, Mateo R (2012) Blood Pb and δ-ALAD inhibition in cattle and sheep from a Pb-polluted mining area. Environ Pollut 160(1):118–124

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez-Estival J, Alvarez-Lloret P, Rodriguez-Navarro AB, Mateo R (2013) Chronic effects of lead (Pb) on bone properties in red deer and wild boar: Relationship with vitamins A and D3. Environ Pollut 174:142–149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romero-Freire A, Martin Peinado FJ, van Gestel CAM (2015) Effect of soil properties on the toxicity of Pb: Assessment of the appropriateness of guideline values. J Hazard Mater 289:46–53

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salomons W, Förstner U (1984) Metals in the hydrocycle. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Santiago D, Motas-Guzman M, Reja A, Maria-Mojica P, Rodero B, Garcia-Fernandez AJ (1998) Lead and cadmium in red deer and wild boar from Sierra Morena mountains (Andalucia, Spain). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 61(1):730–737

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos J, Guinea A, Abalos B, Ibarguchi J (2007) Composición isotopica del Pb en galenas de la región de la Falla de Azuaga. Aportaciones al modelo plumbotectonico de la Zona de Ossa-Morena. Geogaceta 43:7–10 (in Spanish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith KM, Abrahams PW, Dagleish MP, Steigmajer J (2009) The intake of lead and associated metals by sheep grazing mining-contaminated floodplain pastures in mid-Wales, UK: I. Soil ingestion, soil-metal partitioning and potential availability to pasture herbage and livestock. Sci Total Environ 407:3731–3739

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soler F, Gallego M, Pérez-López M, Míguez MP, Oropesa AL (2015) Niveles de plomo y cadmio en músculo de ciervos y jabalíes de la sierra de Azuaga (Extremadura). Implicaciones en salud pública. Rev Toxicol 32(1):29 (in Spanish)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thornton I, Abrahams P (1983) Soil-ingestion – a major pathway of heavy metals into livestock grazing contaminated land. Sci Total Environ 28:287–294

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) (2005) Natural Resources Conservation Service. National Soil Survey Handbook. Title 430-VI.

  • USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) (1993) Wildlife exposure factors handbook,610 volumes I and II. EPA/600/R-93/187 a and b. Washington, D.C.

  • Venditti D, Durecu S, Berthelin J (2000) A multidisciplinary approach to assess history, environmental risks, and remediation feasibility of soils contaminated by metallurgical activities. Part A: chemical and physical properties of metals and leaching ability. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 38(4):411–420

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wanat N, Joussein E, Soubrand M, Lenain JF (2014) Arsenic (As), antimony (Sb), and lead (Pb) availability from Au-mine Technosols: a case study of transfer to natural vegetation cover in temperate climates. Environ Geochem Health 36:783–795

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wenzel WW, Jockwer F (1999) Accumulation of heavy metals in plants grown on mineralised soils of the Austrian Alps. Environ Pollut 104:145–155

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zar JH (1996) Biostatistical Analysis. Prentice Hall International Editions, New Jersey

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang XW, Yang LS, Li YH, Li HR, Wang WY, Ye BX (2012) Impacts of lead/zinc mining and smelting on the environment and human health in China. Environ Monit Assess 184:2261–2273

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Area, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain

    Ana-Lourdes Oropesa, Juan-Alberto Gala & Francisco Soler

  2. INBIO G + C Research Institute, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain

    Ana-Lourdes Oropesa

  3. Group of Environmental Resources Analysis, University of Extremadura, Avda de Elvas s/n, 06006, Badajoz, Spain

    Luis Fernandez-Pozo & Jose Cabezas

  4. IPROCAR Research Institute, University of Extremadura, Avda de la Universidad s/n, 10003, Caceres, Spain

    Francisco Soler

Authors
  1. Ana-Lourdes Oropesa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juan-Alberto Gala
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Luis Fernandez-Pozo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jose Cabezas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Francisco Soler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ana-Lourdes Oropesa.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Roberto Terzano

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Oropesa, AL., Gala, JA., Fernandez-Pozo, L. et al. Lead content in soils and native plants near an abandoned mine in a protected area of south-western Spain: an approach to determining the environmental risk to wildlife and livestock. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 30386–30398 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06197-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06197-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation