Mercury Dispersal to Arroyo and Coastal Sediments from Abandoned Copper Mine Operations, El Boléo, Baja California

Evidence for mercury dispersal in an arid coastal region of central Baja California (Mexico) suggests that abandoned copper mining operations are a noticeable source of mercury in the environment. There is a generally elevated level of mercury in alluvium of arroyos throughout the mining district (0...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology 2009, Vol.82 (1), p.20-25
Main Authors: Kot, Fyodor, Shumilin, Evgueni, Rodríguez-Figueroa, Griselda Margarita, Mirlean, Nicolai
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alluvium
Aquatic Pollution
Cities
Coastal zone
Coasts
Copper
Copper - analysis
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Health
Environmental Monitoring
Geologic Sediments - chemistry
Marine sediments
Mercury
Mexico
Mining
Pollution
Sediments
Smelters
Soil Science & Conservation
Studies
Waste Water Technology
Water Management
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollution Control
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Summary:Evidence for mercury dispersal in an arid coastal region of central Baja California (Mexico) suggests that abandoned copper mining operations are a noticeable source of mercury in the environment. There is a generally elevated level of mercury in alluvium of arroyos throughout the mining district (0.14-0.18 mg kg⁻¹). In the first several dozen meters surrounding two of the biggest mines, mercury levels range from 0.26 to 3.16 mg kg⁻¹, forming a halo of anomalously high concentrations. The coastal marine sediments, particularly those close to the copper smelter in the town of Santa Rosalía, also display some mercury enrichment.
ISSN:0007-4861
1432-0800
DOI:10.1007/s00128-008-9551-1