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Health risk assessment through consumption of vegetables rich in heavy metals: the case study of the surrounding villages from Panasqueira mine, Central Portugal

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Abstract

Panasqueira mine is a tin–tungsten mineralization hosted by metasediments with quartz veins rich in ferberite. The mineralization also comprises wolframite, cassiterite, chalcopyrite, several sulfides, carbonates and silver sulfosalts. The mining and beneficiation processes produce arsenic-rich mine wastes laid up in huge tailings (Barroca Grande and Rio tailings). The contents of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were estimated in rhizosphere soils, irrigation waters, road dusts and in potatoes, cabbages, lettuces and beans, collected on local gardens of four neighborhood Panasqueira mine villages: S. Francisco de Assis (SFA) and Barroca suffering the influence of tailings; Unhais-o-Velho and Casegas considered as non-polluted areas. The mean concentrations of metals in rhizosphere soils and vegetables exceed the reference guidelines values and seem to be linked to the sulfides. The rhizosphere ecological risks were ranked in the order of Cd > As > Cu > Pb > Zn > Cr and SFA > Barroca > Casegas > Unhais-o-Velho. Metal concentrations, in vegetables, were found in the order of lettuce > cabbage > potatoes and SFA > Barroca > Casegas > Unhais-o-Velho. For cabbages and lettuces, the tendency of contamination is roots > leaves and for potatoes is roots > leaves > tubers. The risk for residents, due to ingesting of metals/metalloid, by consuming vegetables grown around the sampling area, was calculated and the result indicates that the inhabitants of these villages are probably exposed to some potential health risks through the intake of heavy metals and metalloids via consuming their vegetables.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Portuguese Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT)—through the Grant: SFRH/BD/63349/2009.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LNEG – National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, 4465-956, S. Mamede de Infesta, Portugal

    Paula F. Ávila

  2. Geosciences Department, GeoBioTec – Geobiosciences, Geotechnologies and Geoengineering Research Center, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Eduardo Ferreira da Silva & Carla Candeias

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  1. Paula F. Ávila
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  2. Eduardo Ferreira da Silva
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Correspondence to Paula F. Ávila.

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Figure S1.

Sampling location of rhizosphere soils, road dusts, waters and vegetables, in the four selected villages. (JPEG 781 kb)

Figure S2.

View of Barroca Grande tailing with dust in the air due to the dumpers and wind. (JPEG 537 kb)

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Ávila, P.F., Ferreira da Silva, E. & Candeias, C. Health risk assessment through consumption of vegetables rich in heavy metals: the case study of the surrounding villages from Panasqueira mine, Central Portugal. Environ Geochem Health 39, 565–589 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-016-9834-0

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