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Geobiological assessment of the pollution effect of abandoned mine ores (Fej Lahdoum, Northwest Tunisia)

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Abstract

The present work deals with a geobiological assessment of metal pollution in the abandoned Fej Lahdoum mine in Northwest Tunisia. The geological part of the assessment deals with the petrographic, mineralogical, and geochemical study of wastes, soils, and water collected from the mine. The biological part of the assessment investigated the metal presence within leaves and roots of Ampelodesmos mauritanicus and Typhonium flagelliforme species. Waste characterization revealed the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) mainly Pb and Zn (46,040 and 17,650 mg kg−1, respectively, as average value). Anomalous contents in metals exceeding the geochemical background and global range specified for calcic soils are found with average concentrations up to 10,313 mg kg−1 for Pb and 5282 mg kg−1 for Zn, maximum levels are detected in soils in the immediate vicinity of the dumps particularly in the upper horizons but also in depth resulting from plowing and mud cracks which facilitated the incorporation and vertical migration of the pollutants. Enrichment factor (EF) and geoacumulation index (Igeo) indicated different classes of contamination of Fej Lahdoum soils. Metal concentration in plants and water is not very high compared to soils and does not exceed the maximum recommended concentrations, thus, not currently presenting a risk of contamination of the food chain. Nonetheless, further erosion and leaching would have relevant damage on water and plants.

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  1. Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, 3018, Sfax, Tunisia

    Jihène Nouairi & Mounir Medhioub

  2. Geobiotec, Geosciences Dept, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    Fernando Rocha

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  1. Jihène Nouairi
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Correspondence to Jihène Nouairi.

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Nouairi, J., Rocha, F. & Medhioub, M. Geobiological assessment of the pollution effect of abandoned mine ores (Fej Lahdoum, Northwest Tunisia). Arab J Geosci 12, 806 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-019-4870-6

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