Abstract
Samples around a coal gangue dump of the Gequan Coal Mine were collected in April 2009. GC (gas chromatography) and GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) were employed to analyze the composition of organic matter in the samples. ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) was used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals. The contents of organic extracts are within the range of 140–750 mg/kg. Alk- and aro-ratios are relatively high. Compared to those of the background sample (GQ13), the contents of saturated hydrocarbon compounds in all the samples are relatively high. The contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are relatively high with the distance getting closer to the coal gangue dump. These indicate that organic matter in the samples is from coal particles of the coal gangue dump. The distributions of heavy metals are very similar: the contents decrease with distance from the dump, which indicates that the harmful heavy metals from the coal gangue dump have polluted as thick as at least 500 m.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anglin-Brown B., Armour-Brown A., and Lalor G.C. (1995) Heavy metal pollution in Jamaica1: Survey of cadmium, lead and zinc concentrations in the Kintyre and Hope Flat districts [J]. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 17, 51–56.
Boukhalfa C. (2007) Heavy metals in the water and sediments of Oued Es-Souk, Algeria, a river receiving acid effluents from an abandoned mine [J]. African Journal of Aquatic Science. 32, 245–249.
Chen Qi (2010) Annual report of colliery safety professional committee of China national coal association [J]. Colliery Safety. 2, 3–9 (in Chinese).
Cheng Yu, Chen Limin, Sheng Guoying, Min Yushun, Fu Jiamo, and Shao Bo (1998) Distribution, seasonal change and source identification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in aerosols from Guangzhou [J]. China Environment Science. 18, 136–139 (in Chinese).
Clemente R., Dickinson N.M., and Lepp N.W. (2008) Mobility of metals and metalloids in a multi-element contaminated soil 20 years after cessation of the pollution source activity [J]. Environmental Pollution. 155, 254–261.
de Vries W., Romkens P.F., and Schutze G. (2007) Critical soil concentrations of cadmium, lead, and mercury in view of health effects on humans and animals [J]. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 191, 91–130.
Fu Jiamo and Qin Kuangzong (1995) Kerogen Geochemistry [M]. pp.637. Guangdong Science Publishing House, Guangzhou (in Chinese).
Hu Zhipeng and Yang Yan (2004) Gangue comprehensive utilization prospects [J]. Building Materials Industry Information. 1, 6–9 (in Chinese).
IOCC. CAOBISCO (1996) Heavy Metals Rapport.
Korashy H.M. and El-Kadi A.O.S. (2008) Modulation of TCDD-mediated induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 by mercury, lead, and copper in human HepG2 cell line [J]. Toxicology in Vitro. 22, 154–158.
Lagisz M. and Laskowski R. (2008) Evidence for between-generation effects in carabids exposed to heavy metals pollution [J]. Ecotoxicology. 17, 59–66.
Liu Gang, Sheng Guoying, Fu Jiamo, Min yushun, Wang Xinming, Li Shuncheng, Chen Luyan, and Chen Zunyu (2000) Hazardous volatile organic compounds in ambient air in Hong Kong [J]. Environment Chemistry. 19, 61–66 (in Chinese).
Mumford J.L., He X.Z., and Chapman R.S. (1989) Human lung cancer risks due to complex organic mixtures of combustion emissions. In (ed. Band P.). Recent Results in Cancer Research, Occupational Cancer Epidemiology [M]. pp.106–121. Springer-Verlag, New York.
Pandey J. and Pandey U. (2008) Accumulation of heavy metals in dietary vegetables and cultivated soil horizon in organic farming system in relation to atmospheric deposition in a seasonally dry tropical region of India [J]. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 1–14.
Qin Shenjun, Sun Yuzhuang, and Yao Hongwei (2009) Homogeneous production of biodiesels from vegetable oils [J]. World Journal of Engineering. Bd6, 139–142.
Ren Deyi, Zhao Fenghua, Dai Shifeng, Zhang Junying, and Luo Kunli (2006) Geochemistry of Trace Elements in Coal [M]. pp.556. Science Publishing House, Beijing (in Chinese).
Schulte A. and Blum W.E.H. (1997) Schwermetalle in Waldökosystemen. In Geochemie undUmwelt. Relevante Prozesse in Atmo-, Pedo- und Hydrosphäre (eds. Matschullat J., Tobschall H.J., Voigt H.J.) [M]. pp.53–74. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, New York.
Simonich S.L. and Hites R.A. (1994) Importance of vegetation in removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the atmosphere [J]. Nature. 370, 49–51.
Sina (2010) Prevention of cancer of the esophagus in Winter. Health 168. http://www.sina.com.cn.
Stimpfl E., Aichner M., Cassar A. et al. (2006) The state of fruit orchard soils in South Tyrol (Italy) [J]. Laimburg Journal. 3, 74–134.
Stobrawa K. and Lorenc-Plucińska G. (2008) Thresholds of heavy-metal toxicity in cuttings of European black poplar (Populus nigra L.) determined according to antioxidant status of fine roots and morphometrical disorders [J]. Science of the Total Environment. 390, 86–96.
Sun Yuzhuang, Fan Jingsen, Qin Peng, and Niu Hongya (2009) Pollution extents of organic substances from a coal gangue dump of Jiulong Coal Mine, China [J]. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. 31, 81–89.
Sun Yuzhuang, Jiao Weiwei, and Fan Jingsen (2007) Organic pollution of Handan iron and steel Co., Ltd. in Handan City, China [J]. World Journal of Engineering. 4, 68–78.
Sun Yuzhuang, Zhang Hongjian, Du Zhenchuan, Li Qingxue, and Li Zengxue (2003) Organic pollution of street dust in the Handan City, China [J]. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 70, 422–429.
Tissot B.P. and Welte D.H. (1984) Petroleum Formation and Occurrence (2nd ed.) [M]. pp.1–699. Springer Verlag, New York.
Wang Jinxi, Fan Jingsen, and Qin Peng (2011) Pollution of aromatic compounds and elements of a coal gangue dump from Fengfeng Coal Mine 5, China [J]. World Journal of Engineering. 8, 15–22.
Wieting J. (1988) Effects of air-pollutants on groundwater quality in the Federal Republic of Germany [J]. Wasser Boden. 40, 183–186.
Xie Hongquan and Zhang Guangcan (2002) Ecological environment effects and administering counter measures of coal mine tips [J]. Journal of Beijing Vocational and Technical Institute of Industry. 1, 27–31 (in Chinese).
Youngblood W.W. and Blumer M. (1975) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the environment: Homologous series in soils and recent marine sediments [J]. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 39, 1303–1314.
Yunker M.B. and Macdonald W. (1995) Composition and origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Mackenzie River and on the Beaufort Sea shelf [J]. Arctic. 48, 118–129.
Zhang Guangdi, Zhang Qiling, Ge Xiaoli, Hou Jun, Zhang Xiulan, and Li Shaosen (1998) Esophageal cancer of south Hebei Province and geologic ecological environment [J]. China Geology. 2, 36–41 (in Chinese).
Zhao Cunling, Qin Shenjun, Yang Yinchao, Li Yanheng, and Lin Mingyue (2009) Concentration of gallium in the Permo-Carboniferous Coals of China [J]. Energy Exploration and Exploitation. 27, 333–343.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fan, J., Sun, Y., Li, X. et al. Pollution of organic compounds and heavy metals in a coal gangue dump of the Gequan Coal Mine, China. Chin. J. Geochem. 32, 241–247 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-013-0628-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-013-0628-0