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Thallium and Other Potentially Toxic Elements in the Baccatoio Stream Catchment (Northern Tuscany, Italy) Receiving Drainages from Abandoned Mines

接受废弃矿井废水汇入的Baccatoio河水(意大利托斯卡纳北部)铊及其它潜在有毒元素

Thallium und andere potentiell toxische Elemente im Einzugsgebiet des Baccatoioflusses (Nordtoskana, Italien) als Vorfluter für die Entwässerung von Altbergbauen

Talio y otros potenciales elementos tóxicos en la cuenca del arroyo Baccatoio (Norte de la Toscana, Italia) recibiendo drenajes desde minas abandonadas

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Abstract

Acid mine drainages (AMD) have adversely affected the southern Apuan Alps (northern Tuscany, Italy). The study particularly focuses on the Baccatoio stream, which receives AMD from the abandoned Pollone and M. Arsiccio mines. The mine waters have an average pH of 2.2 and contain potentially toxic elements (PTE) at concentrations that exceed the Italian regulatory threshold for Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Co, Cd, Sb, Pb, and Tl. The AMD flow directly into the stream, severely contaminating it. Downstream of the mined areas, the pH increases and most PTE (especially Fe, Al, As, and Pb) are readily scavenged from the stream waters by precipitation and/or adsorption. However, Tl, which peak at 1000 µg/L in the AMD, behaves almost conservatively along the stream flow path, undergoing only dilution, and remains at or above the concentration of concern of 4 µg/L almost to the coastline, before sharply decreasing to 0.5 µg/L where seawater is encountered. Since the stream water was locally used for irrigation, these observations may have important environmental and public health consequences in such a densely populated area.

抽象

酸性矿山废水严重影响意大利托斯卡纳北部Apuan Alps地区。主要研究了接受废弃Pollone矿和M. Arsiccio矿酸性矿山废水汇入的Baccatoio河流。矿山废水平均pH值2.2并含有超过意大利规定浓度标准的潜在有害元素(PTE),包括Al、Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Ni、Co、Cd、Sb、Pb和Tl。酸性矿山废水直接排入且严重污染河流。沉淀和吸附作用使矿区下游河水pH值升高,多数PTE元素(尤其Fe、Al、 As和Pb)减少。但是,铊(在酸性废水中最大浓度1000μm/L)沿河流浓度稳定,以稀释作用为主;至海岸线附近时,铊浓度一直维持于4μm/L上下;最终汇入海水时,铊浓度陡然降至0.5 µg/L。河水主要用于农田灌溉,研究对人口稠密区具有重要环境和公共健康意义。

Zusammenfassung

Saure Grubenwässer wirken sich auf die südlichen Apuaner Alpen (Nordtoskana, Italien) nachteilig aus. Die Studie konzentriert sich insbesondere auf den Baccatoiofluss, der mit sauren Grubenwässern von den Altbergbauen in Pollone und am Monte Arsiccio beaufschlagt wird. Die Grubenwässer haben einen pH-Wert von 2,2 und enthalten potentiell toxische Elemente in Konzentrationen die die italienischen gesetzlichen Grenzwerte für Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Co, Cd, Sb, Pb and Tl überschreiten. Die sauren Grubenwässer fließen direkt in den Fluss und belasten ihn schwerwiegend. Flussabwärts der Bergbaugebiete steigt der pH-Wert und die meisten potentiell toxischen Elemente (insbesondere Fe, Al, As und Pb) werden einfach durch Ausfällung und/oder Adsorbtion aus dem Wasserstrom ausgeschieden. Tl mit einer Höchstkonzentration von 1000 µg/l im sauren Grubenwasser verbleibt jedoch entlang des Fließpfades nahezu unbeeinflusst und unterliegt lediglich der Verdünnung. Die maßgebliche Grenzkonzentration bleibt beinahe bis zur Küste bei oder über 4 µg/l bevor sie schlagartig beim Zusammentreffen mit Meerwasser auf 0,5 µg/l abnimmt. Seit das Flusswasser lokal zu Bewässerungszwecken verwendet wird, können diese Beobachtungen in einem derart dicht besiedelten Gebiet schwerwiegende Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt und die öffentliche Gesundheit haben.

Resumen

Los drenajes ácidos de mina (AMD) han afectado negativamente los alpes Apuan (norte de la Toscana, Italia). El estudio se focaliza sobre el arroyo Baccatoio que recibe AMD de las minas abandonadas Pollone y M. Arsiccio. Las aguas de mina tienen un pH promedio de 2,2 y contienen elementos potencialmente tóxicos (PTE) a concentraciones que exceden el marco regulatorio italiano para Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As, Ni, Co, Cd, Sb, Pb y Tl. El flujo de AMD directamente dentro del curso de agua, lo afecta severamente. Corriente abajo de las áreas mineras, el pH crece y la mayoría de los PTE (especialmente Fe, Al, As y Pb) se eliminan fácilmente por precipitación y/o adsorción. No obstante, Tl, con un máximo de 1000 μg/L en el AMD, prácticamente se conserva a lo largo del paso del flujo del curso, sufre sólo dilución y permanece en o por encima de la concentración de 4 μg/L casi hasta la costa, antes de decrecer rápidamente a 0,5 μg/L cuando se encuentra con el agua de mar. Como este curso de agua fue usado localmente para riego, estas observaciones pueden tener importancia ambiental y consecuencias para la salud pública en un área tan densamente poblada.

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Fig. 1

Modified after D’Orazio et al. (2017)

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by Regione Toscana. The authors thank the Pietrasanta Municipality for providing access to the sampling areas and to Emilia Bramanti, Massimo Onor, Beatrice Campanella (CNR-ICCOM), and Marco Doveri (CNR-IGG) for their assistance and fruitful discussions.

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  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy

    Martina Perotti, Riccardo Petrini, Massimo D’Orazio, Lisa Ghezzi, Roberto Giannecchini & Simone Vezzoni

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  1. Martina Perotti
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  2. Riccardo Petrini
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  3. Massimo D’Orazio
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  4. Lisa Ghezzi
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  5. Roberto Giannecchini
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  6. Simone Vezzoni
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Correspondence to Martina Perotti.

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Perotti, M., Petrini, R., D’Orazio, M. et al. Thallium and Other Potentially Toxic Elements in the Baccatoio Stream Catchment (Northern Tuscany, Italy) Receiving Drainages from Abandoned Mines. Mine Water Environ 37, 431–441 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10230-017-0485-x

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