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Arsenic in the Muteh gold mining district, Isfahan, Iran

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Abstract

Following the appearance of symptoms of arsenic toxicity in the inhabitants of villages in the Muteh gold mining region, central Iran, the concentration of this element in various parts of biogeochemical cycle is investigated. For this purpose, rock, groundwater, soil, plant, livestock hair and wool, and human hair samples are collected and analysed. Total arsenic content ranges from 23 to 2,500 mg/kg in rock samples, 7–1,061 μg/l in water, 12–232 mg/kg in soil, 0.5–16 mg/kg in plant samples, 4.10–5.69 mg/kg in livestock hair and wool, and 0.64–5.82 mg/kg in human hair. Arsenic concentration in various parts of biogeochemical cycle near the gold deposit in a metamorphic complex, and also close to the gold-processing plant, is very high and decreases exponentially with increasing distance from them. Arsenic concentration in water from a well close to the Muteh gold mine is above 1 mg/L. Arsenic in hair samples taken from local inhabitants is above the recommended levels, and the control samples in Shahre-Kord city. Arsenic concentration is higher in male population and correlates positively with age. It is suggested that arsenic resulting from the decomposition of ore mineral such as orpiment (As2S3), realgar (As2S2) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS) is responsible for polluting natural resources and the human intake via drinking water and the food chain. Gold mining and processing has undoubtedly enhanced the release of arsenic and intensified the observed adverse effects in Muteh area.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to express their gratitude to Mr. Lahijanzadeh of Esfahan environmental protection office for financially supporting this research. We would also like to extend our thanks to the members of the Research Committee of Shiraz University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz, 71454, Iran

    Behnam Keshavarzi, Farid Moore & Fatemeh Rastmanesh

  2. Isfahan Environmental Protection Office, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Kermani

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  1. Behnam Keshavarzi
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  2. Farid Moore
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  3. Fatemeh Rastmanesh
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Correspondence to Behnam Keshavarzi.

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Keshavarzi, B., Moore, F., Rastmanesh, F. et al. Arsenic in the Muteh gold mining district, Isfahan, Iran. Environ Earth Sci 67, 959–970 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-1532-3

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