Journal Article

Trace elements concentration and distributions in coal and coal mining wastes and their environmental and health impacts in Shaanxi, China

Xiaofeng, Zhao, Hussain, Rahib, Luo, Kunli, Chao, Zhao

2018

Overview

This study probe the probable impacts of coal mining pollution and its impacts on human’s health and environment. A total of 144 samples including coal and coal wastes, soil, plants, foods, and water were collected from the Hancheng county and countryside of Shaanxi, China. All the samples were analyzed for trace elements using ICP-MS, OES, and AFS. Results showed that the concentration of Se, As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Mo, U, Th (mgKg −1 ), Fe, Mn, Al, Ti (%) etc., in coal and coal wastes were 7.5, 12.1, 275, 55, 54.2, 0.8, 14.8, 94.5, 8.9, 4.9, 17.2, 3.5, 0.02, 19, 0.7, respectively. While in soil 0.6, 12, 194, 27.5, 7.4, 0.6, 11.3, 83.4, 0.7, 1.7, 9.9, 3.1, 0.04, 10.5, and 0.4 for the above elements, respectively. In Hancheng foods, the average concentration of Se-0.09, As-0.15, Cr-1.8, Cu-3.2, Pb-0.4, Cd-0.02, Co-0.09, Ni-0.4, Mo-0.64, U-0.01, Th-0.03, Fe-129, Mn-15.6, Al-234, and Ti-5.2 in mgKg −1 , respectively, which are comparably higher than the countryside. The elemental concentration in groundwater of both areas was below the WHO-2004 standard. In Hancheng, the average daily intake (mgKg −1 bw/d) of Se 0.004–0.0038, As 0.004–0.13, Cr 0.055–0.06, Cd 0.001–0.004, Ni 0.018–13.91, Pb 0.05–0.001 adult-children, respectively. The toxic trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb, Ti, Cd, Co, Th, Fe, Al, and Mo caused non-carcinogenic risk with high morbidity in children than adults. By assessing environmental risks, coal and coal wastes caused high risk, food and plants faced moderate to high risk, while mountain and agriculture soil are prone to low to considerable risk. The pollution in Hancheng County is extreme as compared to the countryside. The study concluded that the contamination is geogenic in both the areas but coal mining enhance the metals contamination and has extensive impacts on the living community and environment of Hancheng areas.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / adult children / Adults / agricultural soils / Aluminum / Aquatic Pollution / arsenic / average daily intake / Biocompatibility / Cadmium / Carcinogens / Child / Children / China / Chromium / coal / Coal - analysis / Coal mine wastes / Coal mines / Coal Mining / Cobalt / Copper / Earth and Environmental Science / Ecological risk assessment / Ecotoxicology / Environment / Environmental assessment / Environmental Chemistry / Environmental Health / Environmental impact / Environmental Monitoring - methods / Environmental Pollutants - analysis / Environmental risk / Environmental science / Food / Food contamination / Food plants / Food waste / foods / Groundwater / Groundwater - chemistry / Humans / Industrial Waste - analysis / Iron / Lead / manganese / Metals / Metals, Heavy - analysis / Mine wastes / Mining / molybdenum / Morbidity / Nickel / pollution / Research Article / Risk / Risk Assessment / Rural areas / selenium / Soil - chemistry / Soil pollution / Surgical implants / thorium / titanium / toxicity / Trace elements / Trace Elements - analysis / uranium / Waste Water Technology / Wastes / Water Management / Water pollution / Water Pollution Control