Evaluation of water colunm and sediment toxicity from an abandoned uranium mine using a battery of bioassays

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2007

Authors

Antunes, SC (Author) Other; de Figueiredo, DR (Author) Other; Marques, SM (Author) Other; Castro, BB (Author) Other; Pereira, R (Author) Other; Goncalves, F (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Science of the Total Environment

Vol. 374

Pages: 252-259

ISSN: 0048-9697

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 62 Citations

Scopus - 63 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-B62

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.11.025

Abstract (EN): Uranium mining activities in Cunha Baixa, Mangualde (Portugal), were extensive between 1967 and 1993, with high production of poor ore. Ore exploitation left millions of tons of tailings in the surrounding area, close to human houses. Contamination of the area (water and soil compartment) presently represents a serious hazard to humans and wildlife. The aim of this work was to evaluate the acute toxicity of water and sediments from a pond that floods a uranium mine pit, in two periods (spring and autumn). High contents of metals were found in water samples (chiefly Mn, Fe, Al, U, Sr). A battery of assays was applied to screen the acute toxicity of the different compartments using algae, crustaceans and dipterans. Results showed that the sediments were non-toxic, unlike the superficial water. Water toxicity was higher in the autumn, when the effluent was more acidic, compared to spring. In the water toxicity assays, the relative sensitivity of the test species used was Daphnia longispina > Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata > Daphnia magna. The present study is part of the chemical and ecotoxicological characterisation of the aquatic compartment performed in the Tier I of the Ecological Risk Assessment of the Cunha Baixa mining area.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8