在矿山关闭后很久,金属矿的铅污染会对环境和健康产生重大影响。生活在废弃矿区附近的动物可能会无意中摄入铅污染的土壤,导致他们积累铅,并可能经历重大的不利健康影响。人类食品,比如鸡蛋,在金属矿附近生产的也可能被铅污染。本案例研究的重点是确定生活在废弃铅矿附近的散养鸡是否具有较高的铅身负担,他们是否生产铅浓度升高的鸡蛋,以及这些鸡蛋是否对人类健康有害。土壤样本和鸡蛋,羽毛,血,骨头样本是从一个废弃的金属矿附近的一个小农场收集的。鸡圈内和周围的土壤中的铅浓度高于既定的土壤铅基线浓度。鸡毛中的铅浓度,血,骨样本与铅毒性一致,表明长期,连续曝光。最后,鸡蛋中的铅浓度明显高于商业鸡蛋中的铅浓度。根据先前确定的铅基准剂量水平,人类,特别是,孩子们,如果他们经常食用这些鸡蛋,可能会对健康产生不利影响。环境铅污染继续对人类构成重大健康风险,和进一步的研究,理解,和意识需要保护公众免受食用废弃矿山附近生产的食物的风险。
Lead pollution from metalliferous mines can have major environmental and health effects long after the mines have closed. Animals living near derelict mine sites can inadvertently ingest lead-contaminated soils, causing them to accumulate lead and potentially experience significant adverse health effects. Human food products, such as eggs, produced near metalliferous mines may also be contaminated with lead. The focus of this
case study was to determine whether free-range chickens living near a derelict lead mine had high lead body burdens, whether they were producing eggs with elevated lead concentrations, and whether these eggs could be hazardous to human health. Soil samples and
chicken egg, feather, blood, and bone samples were collected from a small farm near an abandoned metalliferous mine. The soil in and around the
chicken pens contained lead concentrations that were elevated above established soil lead baseline concentrations. The lead concentrations in the
chicken feather, blood, and bone samples were consistent with lead toxicity and indicated long-term, continuous exposure. Finally, the lead concentrations in the eggs were significantly greater than those found in commercial eggs. Based on previously established lead benchmark dose levels, humans, and in particular, children, could experience adverse health impacts if they routinely consumed these eggs. Environmental lead contamination continues to pose a major health risk for humans, and further research, understanding, and awareness are required to safeguard the public from the risks of consuming food produced near derelict mines.