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Source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and mining activity contamination level in soils of Taltal city (northern Chile)

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Abstract

Mining activities are among the main sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the environment which constitute a real concern worldwide, especially in develo** countries. These activities have been carried out for more than a century in Chile, South America, where, as evidence of incorrect waste disposal practices, several abandoned mining waste deposits were left behind. This study aimed to understand multi-elements geochemistry, source patterns and mobility of PTEs in soils of the Taltal urban area (northern Chile). Topsoil samples (n = 125) were collected in the urban area of Taltal city (6 km2) where physicochemical properties (redox potential, electric conductivity and pH) as well as chemical concentrations for 35 elements were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer. Data were treated following a robust workflow, which included factor analysis (based on ilr-transformed data), a new robust compositional contamination index (RCCI), and fractal/multi-fractal interpolation in GIS environment. This approach allowed to generate significant elemental associations, identifying pool of elements related either to the geological background, pedogenic processes accompanying soil formation or to anthropogenic activities. In particular, the study eventually focused on a pool of 6 PTEs (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn), their spatial distribution in the Taltal city, and the potential sources and mechanisms controlling their concentrations. Results showed generally low baseline values of PTEs in most sites of the surveyed area. On a smaller number of sites, however, higher values concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb were found. These corresponded to very high RCCI contamination level and were correlated to potential anthropogenic sources, such as the abandoned mining waste deposits in the north-eastern part of the Taltal city. This study highlighted new and significant insight on the contamination levels of Taltal city, and its links with anthropogenic activities. Further research is considered to be crucial to extend this assessment to the entire region. This would provide a comprehensive overview and vital information for the development of intervention limits and guide environmental legislation for these pollutants in Chilean soils.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the contribution (Software support) from Annalise Guarino, Ph.D. student from the Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources (DISTAR), University of Naples, “Federico II”. This work was supported through two financial supports: (1) Funding from the Regional Council of Antofagasta under Project “Estudio de ingeniería para la remediación de sitios abandonados con potencial presencia de contaminantes identificados en la comuna de Taltal—BIP N°30320122-0” and by (2) “Conicyt + Fondef/Tercer Concurso Idea en dos etapas del fondo de fomento al desarrollo científico y tecnológico. Fondef/Conicyt 2016 + Folio (Código IT16M10031), Mapa de la línea base geoquímica para suelos en la comuna de Taltal: LIBAMET–Map Services”.

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  1. Arturo Reyes and Matar Thiombane have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ingeniería en Minas, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile

    Arturo Reyes

  2. Centro de Investigación, Científico Tecnológico para la Minería, CICITEM, Antofagasta, Chile

    Arturo Reyes

  3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell’Ambiente e delle Risorse, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, Complesso Universitario Monte S. Angelo, Via Cintia snc, 80126, Naples, Italy

    Matar Thiombane & Annamaria Lima

  4. Norwest Italia Srl, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Matar Thiombane & Benedetto De Vivo

  5. Pegaso University, Piazza Trieste e Trento 48, 80132, Naples, Italy

    Antonio Panico & Benedetto De Vivo

  6. Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Chile, Plaza Ercilla 803, Santiago, Chile

    Linda Daniele

  7. School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus Southwell, Nottingham, NG25 0QF, UK

    Marcello Di Bonito

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Reyes, A., Thiombane, M., Panico, A. et al. Source patterns of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) and mining activity contamination level in soils of Taltal city (northern Chile). Environ Geochem Health 42, 2573–2594 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00404-5

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