Potentially Toxic elements (PTEs) contamination and human health risk assessment of soils in the vicinity of the abandoned lead mine of Zeïda, Upper Moulouya basin in Morocco

IF 2.2 4区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Journal of African Earth Sciences Pub Date : 2025-06-19 DOI:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2025.105731

Abdelmouiz Ech-Charef , Fatima Zohra EL Houfy , Abdelilah Dekayir , Gyozo Jordan , Amal Labaioui , Mohamed Rouai , Lamiae EL Alaoui

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Abstract

This research investigated the contamination levels of six Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in soils in the vicinity of the abandoned Zeïda lead mine in Upper Moulouya basin, which was considered to be one of Morocco's largest lead reserves. It aimed to quantify the elements' concentrations, assessed the associated environmental and health risks posed by PTEs, and identified the potential contamination sources.

In total, 47 soil samples were collected from different sources including crop fields, mining wastes, and tailings at a depth range of 0–20 cm, and subjected to mineralogical and textural analysis. The mineralogical composition was determined by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) using a BRUKER Advance Diffractometer. The concentrations of metals and metalloids were measured employing ICP-MS by aqua regia extraction. The levels of pollutants were assessed by calculating multiple indices including: the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the enrichment factor (EF), the contamination factor (CF), the contamination degree (CD), the pollution load index (PLI), and Hazard Quotients (HQs) and Health index (HI) to assess the non-carcinogenic risk on population.

Results showed a consistent mineralogical composition across samples featuring a predominance of calcite, quartz, orthoclase, illite, kaolinite, microcline, and muscovite. The average concentration values (mg/kg) exhibited elevated to moderate values of heavy metals/metalloids (Pb = 1087.83, Zn = 89.63, As = 14.70, Cu = 24.40, Cd = 0.28, and Co = 8.93) particularly near the tailings, in comparison to an uncontaminated soil sample acting as a reference baseline, in the sequence of Pb > Zn > Cu > As > Co > Cd. The significant correlation values among Pb-As (0.8579), Pb-Cu (0.7882), and As-Cu (0.8272) demonstrated the adverse influence of mining operations on the studied area, confirmed by PCA analysis which showed that anthropogenic activities (mining) were the main origin of contamination. Moreover, HQs through ingestion for both children and adults revealed serious non-carcinogenic risk on population.

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摩洛哥上穆卢亚盆地Zeïda废弃铅矿附近土壤的潜在有毒元素污染和人类健康风险评估

本研究调查了上穆卢亚盆地废弃Zeïda铅矿附近土壤中六种潜在有毒元素（pte）的污染水平，该矿区被认为是摩洛哥最大的铅储量之一。它旨在量化这些元素的浓度，评估pte造成的相关环境和健康风险，并确定潜在的污染源。共采集了47个不同来源的土壤样本，包括农田、采矿废弃物和尾矿，深度为0-20 cm，并进行了矿物学和结构分析。采用BRUKER先进衍射仪进行x射线衍射（XRD）测定矿物组成。采用王水萃取等离子体质谱法测定金属和类金属的浓度。通过计算地质累积指数（Igeo）、富集系数（EF）、污染系数（CF）、污染程度（CD）、污染负荷指数（PLI）、危害商（hq）和健康指数（HI）等指标评价污染物水平，评价人群非致癌风险。结果显示，样品的矿物组成一致，方解石、石英、正长石、伊利石、高岭石、微斜长石和白云母占主导地位。与作为参考基线的未污染土壤样品相比，重金属/类金属的平均浓度（mg/kg）（Pb = 1087.83, Zn = 89.63, As = 14.70, Cu = 24.40, Cd = 0.28, Co = 8.93）在尾矿附近的平均值（mg/kg）升高到中等水平，其顺序为Pb >；锌比;铜比;比;公司在Pb-As（0.8579）、Pb-Cu（0.7882）和As-Cu（0.8272）的显著相关值表明采矿作业对研究区产生了不利影响，主成分分析证实了人为活动（采矿）是污染的主要来源。此外，儿童和成人摄入的HQs均显示出严重的非致癌风险。

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来源期刊

Journal of African Earth Sciences 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.30%

发文量

240

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： The Journal of African Earth Sciences sees itself as the prime geological journal for all aspects of the Earth Sciences about the African plate. Papers dealing with peripheral areas are welcome if they demonstrate a tight link with Africa. The Journal publishes high quality, peer-reviewed scientific papers. It is devoted primarily to research papers but short communications relating to new developments of broad interest, reviews and book reviews will also be considered. Papers must have international appeal and should present work of more regional than local significance and dealing with well identified and justified scientific questions. Specialised technical papers, analytical or exploration reports must be avoided. Papers on applied geology should preferably be linked to such core disciplines and must be addressed to a more general geoscientific audience.