Abstract

SOTO JIMENEZ, Martín Federico  and  OLVERA-BALDERAS, Daniel. POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS (Cd, Hg, Pb AND Zn) IN IMPACTED SOILS BY RECYCLING LEAD PLANT (ZACATECAS, MEXICO), A DECADE AFTER STOPPING OPERATIONS. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2019, vol.35, n.3, pp.651-669.  Epub Aug 21, 2020. ISSN 0188-4999.  https://doi.org/10.20937/rica.2019.35.03.11.

Cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were analyzed in 75 samples of surrounding soils (7 km2) to a lead recycling plant out of operation in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, and five samples of a non-impacted soil to obtain the background regional values. Aluminum (Al) was used as a reference element for the calculation of enrichment factors (EF). A high variability was observed in the concentrations of Cd (0.02 - 9.11 μg/g), Hg (< D.L, - 2.91 μg/g), Pb (8.9 - 9216 μg/g) and Zn (31.2 - 465 μg/g). A high association was observed between Cd, Pb and Zn, but not with Al and Hg. There was an inverse association with the factory distance for the concentrations of Cd and Pb, but not for Hg and Zn. This indicates that the source of Cd and Pb was the recycling plant, while Hg and Zn may have other anthropogenic sources and/or a different behavior. Cd and Pb show a clear trend to accumulate towards the west-northwest direction. There was a significant decrease in Pb with respect to the maximum levels in 2004 (from 84 238 μg/g to 9216 μg/g) within the factory land. Even so, the FECd and FEPb varied from natural to contaminated and the contamination extends to ~ 0.5 km towards the W - NW. FEHg and FEZn were from natural to enriched levels. The high concentrations of Cd and Pb in and out of the occupied plant land make necessary the continuous monitoring of the impacted area given the potential transport of the dust to nearby populations.

Keywords : pollutant dispersion; enrichment factor; remediation; public health.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )