Assessment of metal and metalloid contamination in soils trough compositional data: the old Mortórios uranium mine area, central Portugal
Type
article
Creator
Publisher
Identifier
Neiva, A. M. R. [et al.] (2019) - Assessment of metal and metalloid contamination in soils trough compositional data: the old Mortórios uranium mine area, central Portugal. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. ISSN 0269-4042. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00347-x
0269-4042
10.1007/s10653-019-00347-x
Title
Assessment of metal and metalloid contamination in soils trough compositional data: the old Mortórios uranium mine area, central Portugal
Subject
Raw data
Compositional data
Spatial analysis
Health risks
Open pit lake
Dumps
Compositional data
Spatial analysis
Health risks
Open pit lake
Dumps
Relation
567 SFRH/BSAB/ 127907/2016
Date
2019-07-16T11:01:31Z
2020-08-31T00:30:11Z
2019
2020-08-31T00:30:11Z
2019
Description
“This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00347-x”.
Soils from the old Mortórios uranium mine area were studied to look for contamination, as they are close to two villages, up to 3 km away, and used for agriculture. They are mainly contaminated in U and As and constitute an ecological threat. This study attempts to outline the degree to which soils have been affected by the old mining activities through the computation of significant hot clusters, Traditional geostatistical approaches commonly use raw data (concentrations) accepting that the analyzed elements represent the soil's entirety. However, in geochemical studies these elements are just a fraction of the total soil composition. Thus, considering compositional data is pivotal. The spatial characterization, considering raw and compositional data together, allowed a broad discussion about not only the concentrations' spatial distribution, but also a better understanding on the possibility of trends of "relative enrichment" and, furthermore an insight in U and As fate. The highest proportions (compositional data) on U (up to 33%), As (up to 35%) and Th (up to 13%) are reached in the south-southeast segment. However, the highest concentrations (raw data) occur in north and northwest of the studied area, pointing out to a "relative enrichment" toward the south-southeast zone. The Mondego Sul area is mainly contaminated in U and As, but also in Co, Cu, Pb and Sb. The Mortórios area is less contaminated than the Mondego Sul area.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Soils from the old Mortórios uranium mine area were studied to look for contamination, as they are close to two villages, up to 3 km away, and used for agriculture. They are mainly contaminated in U and As and constitute an ecological threat. This study attempts to outline the degree to which soils have been affected by the old mining activities through the computation of significant hot clusters, Traditional geostatistical approaches commonly use raw data (concentrations) accepting that the analyzed elements represent the soil's entirety. However, in geochemical studies these elements are just a fraction of the total soil composition. Thus, considering compositional data is pivotal. The spatial characterization, considering raw and compositional data together, allowed a broad discussion about not only the concentrations' spatial distribution, but also a better understanding on the possibility of trends of "relative enrichment" and, furthermore an insight in U and As fate. The highest proportions (compositional data) on U (up to 33%), As (up to 35%) and Th (up to 13%) are reached in the south-southeast segment. However, the highest concentrations (raw data) occur in north and northwest of the studied area, pointing out to a "relative enrichment" toward the south-southeast zone. The Mondego Sul area is mainly contaminated in U and As, but also in Co, Cu, Pb and Sb. The Mortórios area is less contaminated than the Mondego Sul area.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Access restrictions
openAccess
Language
eng
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