基岩中的矿石矿化及其开采可能会对周围城市地区的空气质量产生负面影响,随后,关于人类健康。这项研究使用地衣作为大气污染的生物指标,以评估西班牙西南部伊比利亚黄铁矿带(IPB)大量硫化物矿床附近城镇中潜在有毒元素(PTE)的空间分布。总共从采矿城镇收集了89个原生的地衣样品,控制采矿活动无法触及的城镇,以及从远端采样点。酸消化后对样品进行29种元素分析。Co的浓度,Ni,Cu,Zn,As,Rb,Mo,Cd,Sn,Sb,Cs,Ba,W,Tl,Pb,S,与对照城镇相比,采矿城镇中的Fe明显更高。矿石矿物伴生的PTE,包括Cu,Zn,As,Ba,还有Pb,在靠近采矿活动的城市地区表现出极端的浓度,特别是在矿物加工厂和尾矿池旁边的LaDehesa小定居点。远端样本证实了所有PTE浓度的降低,并且这些样品呈现与对照区域相似的值。结果,在邻近城市地区的地衣thalli中PTEs的生物积累增加,这表明邻近城市地区的空气质量受到大量多金属硫化物矿床的局部影响,这些矿床因采矿活动而增强。因此,建议监测城市空气质量。
Ore mineralizations in bedrock and their exploitation may have a negative impact on air quality of surrounding urban areas and, subsequently, on human health. This study uses lichens as bioindicators of atmospheric pollution to evaluate the spatial distribution of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the towns close to the massive sulfide deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) in SW Spain. Altogether 89 native lichen samples of Xanthoria parietina were collected from the mining towns, control towns out of the reach of the mining activity, as well as from distal sampling sites. The samples were analyzed for 29 elements after acid digestion. The concentrations for Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Cs, Ba, W, Tl, Pb, S, and Fe are significantly higher in the mining towns in comparison to the control towns. The ore mineral-associated PTEs, including Cu, Zn, As, Ba, and Pb, exhibit extreme concentrations in the urban areas close to the mining activity, and particularly in the small settlement of La Dehesa next to the mineral processing plant and the tailings pond. The distal samples confirm the decrease in the concentrations of all PTEs, and these samples present similar values as in the control areas. The results, point at increased bioaccumulation of PTEs in the lichen thalli of the adjacent urban areas, suggesting that the air quality of the adjacent urban areas is locally impacted by the massive polymetallic sulfide deposits which is enhanced by the mining activity. Therefore, monitoring the urban air quality is recommended.