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Contamination of stream waters, sediments, and agricultural soil in the surroundings of an abandoned copper mine by potentially toxic elements and associated environmental and potential human health–derived risks: a case study from Agrokipia, Cyprus

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Abstract

Abandoned mining areas have left a legacy of environmental damage with potential public health implications. The present study aimed at (1) assessing the level of contamination of the sites surrounding the Agrokipia abandoned copper mine in Cyprus through the mobilization of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), (2) correlating results with the mineralogy of the area, (3) discussing potential ecological and human health risks, and (4) proposing regeneration strategies. To this effect, the levels of 22 PTEs and other major elements were assessed in the acidic water of pit lakes, the tailings, the waters, and sediments of several streams originating from the mining site and flowing through the village of Agrokipia, and from agricultural soil from an impacted adjacent olive orchard. The pH values of water (pH < 2.7) in the pit lakes uncovered the acidic and oxidizing conditions that prevailed in the area. The acidity and the examined PTE concentrations in stream waters followed a decreasing trend with increasing distance from the tailing, reaching background values in a distance of 1500 m. The tailing spoil-heap was significantly enriched with Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ag (e.g., enrichment factor values up to 29 for Cu and 120 for Ag). Stream sediments and agricultural soil were contaminated with PTEs (mainly Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ag, and Li), as evident by several contamination indices (i.e., enrichment and contamination factor). The level of contamination was correlated with the reported mineralogy of the site. The values of the degree of contamination (Cdeg = 62) and pollution load index (PLI = 2.4) indicated contamination of the sediments of the Voulgarides stream flowing through the village, suggesting potential public health implications to the local community. In addition, the values of the ecological risk factor suggested that the studied streams pose moderate ecological risks, mainly mediated by Cd and Cu. Overall, the results highlighted the need for undertaking regeneration measures for safeguarding environmental sustainability and public health.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution and advices of Prof. Salomons W., Dr. Brill J., Dr. Forstner U., and Dr. Kersten M. in order for this paper to reach its final version.

Funding

This study was supported by Cyprus Agricultural Research Institute Internal Grant to Anastasis Christou (ARI 1303207/5.6).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, P.O. Box 27658, 2432, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Costas Hadjipanagiotou

  2. Department of Geology, Laboratory of Applied Geochemistry, University of Patras, 26500, Patras, Greece

    Costas Hadjipanagiotou & Soterios P. Varnavas

  3. Agricultural Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, P.O. Box 22016, 1516, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Anastasis Christou

  4. Geological Survey Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, P.O. Box 24543, 1301, Nicosia, Cyprus

    Andreas M. Zissimos

  5. School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Geological Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, GR-15780, Zografou, Athens, Greece

    Elias Chatzitheodoridis

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  1. Costas Hadjipanagiotou
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Correspondence to Anastasis Christou.

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Hadjipanagiotou, C., Christou, A., Zissimos, A.M. et al. Contamination of stream waters, sediments, and agricultural soil in the surroundings of an abandoned copper mine by potentially toxic elements and associated environmental and potential human health–derived risks: a case study from Agrokipia, Cyprus. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 41279–41298 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10098-3

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