Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Behavior of Metals Under Different Seasonal Conditions: Effects on the Quality of a Mexico–USA Border River

  • Published:
Water, Air, & Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Spatial and seasonal mobilization trends of metals in surface water were evaluated in the US–Mexico San Pedro River (SPR). Water samples were collected at five sampling stations for the analysis of dissolved oxygen, pH, electric conductivity, sulfates, and metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn). Quality of the water was characterized through Ecological Criteria of Water Quality (ECWQ) established in Mexico and Water Quality Criteria (Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)). High total metal concentrations were detected as follows: Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cd. Metal concentrations were slightly higher in dry season than in rainy season: Cd (below detection limit (BDL)–0.21 mg L−1), Cu (BDL–13 mg L−1), Fe (0.16–345 mg L−1), Mn (0.12–52 mg L−1), Pb (BDL–0.48 mg L−1), and Zn (0.03–17.8 mg L−1). Low pH and dissolved oxygen values as well as high sulfate content were detected in both seasons. High values of metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) were detected at station E1 representing pollution source, as well as at stations E2 (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn), E3 (Fe, Mn, Pb), and E4 and E5 (Fe, Mn). Detected concentrations exceeded maximum permissible established in ECWQ and Water Quality Criteria (EPA). Efflorescence salts on sediments in the dry season could increase levels of metals in water column. This study provides valuable information on the potential mobility of metals in surface water of SPR located in an arid environment where transport processes are strongly linked to climate. The information derived from this study should help the regional and national authorities to address present environmental regulations.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arias, H. M. (2000). International groundwaters. The upper San Pedro River basin case. Natural Resources Journal, 40, 199–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bigham, J.M., & Nordstrom, D.K. (2000). Iron and aluminium hidroxysulfates from acid sulfate waters. P. 351–403. In: Alpers, C.N., Jambor J.L. & Nordstrom D.K. (eds.) Sulfate Minerals-Crystallography, Geochemistry and Environmental Significance. Mineralogical Society of America and Geochemical Society, Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, (40), 351–403.

  • Chapman, B. M., Jones, D. R., & Jung, R. F. (1983). Processes controlling metal ion attenuation in acid mine drainage streams. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 47, 1957–1973.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cidu, R., Frau, F., & Da Pelo, S. (2011). Drainage at abandoned mine sites: natural attenuation of contaminants in different seasons. Mine Water Environment, 30, 113–126.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Concas, A., Ardau, C., Cristini, A., Zuddas, P., & Cao, G. (2006). Mobility of heavy metals from tailings to stream waters in a mining activity contaminated site. Chemosphere, 63, 244–253.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Connell, W. D., & Miller, J. G. (1984). Chemistry and Ecotoxicology of Pollution. New York, U.S.A.: John Willey & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Aguinaga, R. E. (2002). Modelación geohidrológica del acuífero del Río San Pedro. México: Tesis de licenciatura. Universidad de Sonora.

    Google Scholar 

  • EPA. (1996). Method 6010B. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry. (Environmental Protection Agency) Las Vegas, Nevada. Revision 2.

  • EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). (1982). Handbook for sampling and sample preservation of water and wastewater (Report No. EPA-600/4-82-029), U.S.A.

  • EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). (1986). Gold Book of Quality Criteria for Water. (Environmental Protection Agency) EPA 440/5-86-001. U.S.A.

  • EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). (1999). Methods and guidance for analysis of water, version 2.0. United States Environment Protection Agency. U.S.A.

  • Förstner, U. (1979). Metal transfer between solid and aqueous phases. In: U. Förstner Environmental Geology G. T. W. Wittman (Eds.), Metal pollution in the aquatic environment (pp. 192–270). Verlag, Berlin: Springer

  • Garbarino, J.R., Hayes, H.C., Roth, D.A., Antweiler, R.C., Brinton, T.I. & Taylor, H.E. (1995). Heavy metals in the Mississippi River. In: R.H., Meade (Ed.), Contaminants in the Mississippi River (1987–92). U.S. Virginia: Geological Survey Circular 1133

  • Gómez-Alvarez, A. (2008). Estudio de Caracterización y Biodisponibilidad de Metales Pesados (Agua y Sedimento) del Río San Pedro, localizado en una Región Semi-Árida del Noroeste de México. Ph.D. Thesis, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, México.

  • Gómez-Álvarez, A., Valenzuela-García, J. L., Aguayo-Salinas, S., Meza-Figueroa, D. M., Ramírez-Hernández, J., & Ochoa-Ortega, G. (2007). Chemical partitioning of sediment contamination by heavy metals in the San Pedro River, Sonora, México. Chemical Speciation and Bioavailability, 9, 25–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Álvarez, A., Meza-Figueroa, D. M., Villalba-Atondo, A. I., Valenzuela-García, J. L., Ramírez-Hernández, J., & Almendariz-Tapia, F. J. (2009). Estimation of potential pollution from mine tailings in the San Pedro River (1993–2005), México-U.S. border. Environmental Geology, 57, 1469–1479.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gómez-Álvarez, A., Valenzuela-García, J. L., Meza-Figueroa, D., De la O-Villanueva, M., Ramírez-Hernández, J., & Almendariz-Tapia, F. J. (2011). Impact of mining activities on sediments in a semi-arid environment: San Pedro River. Applied Geochemistry, 12, 2101–2112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera-Carbajal, S. (2005). Estudio hidrológico de la Cuenca del Río San Pedro, Sonora, utilizando el Modflow. Tesis de Maestría. Universidad de Sonora, México.

  • Hudson-Edwards, K. A., Macklin, M. G., & Taylor, M. P. (1999a). 2000 years of sediment-borne heavy metal storage in the Yorkshire Ouse Basin, NE England, U.K. Hydrological Processes, 13, 1087–1102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson-Edwards, K. A., Schell, C., & Macklin, M. G. (1999b). Mineralogy and geochemistry of alluvium contaminated by metal mining in the Rio Tinto area, southwest Spain. Applied Geochemistry, 14, 1015–1030.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hun-Bok, J., Seong-Taek, Y., Mayer, B., Soon-Oh, K., Seong-Sook, P., & Pyeong-Koo, L. (2005). Transport and sediment-water partitioning of trace metals in acid mine drainage: Na example from the abandoned Kwangyang Au-Ag mine área, South Korea. Environmental Geology, 48, 437–449.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • I.N.E.G.I. (Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografia e Informática). (1982). Cartas topográficas H12B32, H12B33, H12B34, H12B42, H12B43, H12B44, H12B52, H12B53 Y H12B54. Escala 1:50,000. México.

  • I.N.E.G.I. (Instituto Nacional de Estadística Geografia e Informática). (1993). Estudio hidrológico del Estado de Sonora. México: Gobierno del Estado de Sonora.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimball, B. A., Callender, E., & Axtmann, E. V. (1995). Effects of colloids on metal transport in a river receiving acid mine drainage, upper Arkansas River, Colorado, USA. Applied Geochemistry, 10, 285–306.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lobban, S. C., Harrison, J. P., & Duncan, J. M. (1985). The physicological ecology of seaweeds. New York: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Longjiang, M., Qiang, E., Duowen, M., Ke, H., & Jinghong, Y. (2011). Contamination assessment of heavy metal in surface sediments of the Wuding River, northern China. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 290, 409–414.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, L., Wang, R., Chen, F., Xue, J., Zhang, P., & Lu, J. (2005). Element mobility during pyrite weathering: implications for acid and heavy metal pollution at mining-impacted sites. Environmental Geology, 49, 82–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meza-Figueroa, D., Maier, R. M., De la O-Villanueva, M., Gómez, A. A., Moreno, Z. A., Rivera, J., Campillo, A., Grandlic, C., Anaya, R., & Palafox, R. J. (2009). The impact of unconfined mine tailings in residential areas from a mining town in a semi-arid environment: Nacozari, Sonora, México. Chemosphere, 77, 140–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mountouris, A., Voutsas, E., & Tassios, D. (2002). Bioconcentration of heavy metals in aquatic environments: the importance of bioavailability. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 44(2002), 1136–1141.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Navarro, M. C., Pérez-Sirvent, C., Martínez-Sánchez, M. J., Vidal, J., Tovar, P. J., & Bech, J. (2008). Abandoned mine sites as a source of contamination by heavy metals: a case study in a semi-arid zone. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 96(2–3), 183–193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olías, M., Nieto, J. M., Sarmiento, A. M., Cerón, J. C., & Cánovas, C. R. (2004). Seasonal water quality variations in a river affected by acid mine drainage: the Odiel River (South West Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 333, 267–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pagnanelli, F., Moscardini, E., Guiliano, V., & Toro, L. (2004). Sequential extraction of heavy metals in river sediments of an abandoned pyrite mining area: pollution detection and affinity series. Environmental Pollution, 132, 189–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Parkman, R. H., Charnock, J. M., Bryan, N. D., Livens, F. R., & Vaughan, D. J. (1999). Reaction of copper and cadmium ions in solution with goethite, lepidocrocite, mackinawite, and pyrite. American Mineralogist, 84, 407–419.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Penreath, R.J. (1994). The discharge of waters from active and abandoned mines. In: Hester, R.E. & Harrison, R.M. (eds.), Mining and its environmental impact. Issues in Environmental Science and Technology No. 1. Royal Society of Chemistry, Herts, UK. Pp. 121–132.

  • Saarinen, T., Mohämmädighävam, S., Marttila, H., & Klove, B. (2013). Impact of peatland forestry on runoff water quality in areas with sulphide-bearing sediments: how to prevent acid surges. Ecological Management, 293, 17–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salomons, W. (1995). Environmental impact of metals derived from mining activities: processes, predictions, prevention. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 52, 5–23.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schemel, L. E., Kimball, B. A., & Bencala, K. E. (2000). Colloid formation and metal transport through two mixing zones affected by acid mine drainage near Silverton, Colorado. Applied Geochemistry, 15, 1003–1018.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SEDUE (Secretaría de Desarrollo Urbano y Ecología) (1989). Acuerdo por el que se establecen los Criterios Ecológicos de Calidad de Agua CE- CCA-001/89, México.

  • Servida, D., Giovanni, G., & De Capitani, L. (2009). Geochemical hazard evaluation of sulphide-rich iron mines: the Rio Marina district (Elba Island, Italy). Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 100, 75–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Solís-Garza, G., Villalba-Atondo, A. I., & y Nubes-Ortís, G. (2012). Calidad de agua y vegetación en el Río Santa Cruz, Sonora. España: México. Editorial Académica Española.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M. P., & Hudson-Edwards, K. A. (2008). The dispersal and storage of sediment-asspciated metals in an arid river system: the leichhardt River, Mount Isa, Queensland, Australia. Environmental Pollution, 152, 193–204.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Villalba-Atondo, A. I., Del Castillo-Alarcón, J. M., Gómez-Álvarez, A., Pérez-Villalba, A. M., Villalba-Urquidy, S., & y Salcido-Esquer, A. (2013). Contaminación del agua y suelo en el ecosistema del Río Agua Prieta, Sonora, México. BIOtecnia, XV, 1, 3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wray, D. S. (1998). The impact of unconfined mine tailings and anthropogenic pollution on a semi-arid environment—an initial study of the Rodalquilar mining district, south east Spain. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 20, 29–38.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Department of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy for their support for the completion of this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy, University of Sonora, Luis Encinas and Rosales, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83000, Mexico

    Agustín Gómez-Alvarez & Jesús L. Valenzuela-García

  2. Department of Geology, University of Sonora, Luis Encinas and Rosales, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83000, Mexico

    Diana Meza-Figueroa

  3. Department of Scientific and Technological Research, University of Sonora, Luis Encinas and Rosales, Hermosillo, Sonora, 83000, Mexico

    Arturo I. Villalba-Atondo

  4. Institute of Engineering, University of Baja California, Blvd. Benito Juárez, s/n, 21280, Mexicali, BC, Mexico

    Jorge Ramírez-Hernández

Authors
  1. Agustín Gómez-Alvarez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Diana Meza-Figueroa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jesús L. Valenzuela-García
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Arturo I. Villalba-Atondo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jorge Ramírez-Hernández
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Agustín Gómez-Alvarez.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Gómez-Alvarez, A., Meza-Figueroa, D., Valenzuela-García, J.L. et al. Behavior of Metals Under Different Seasonal Conditions: Effects on the Quality of a Mexico–USA Border River. Water Air Soil Pollut 225, 2138 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-2138-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-014-2138-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation