The accumulation of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the aquatic biomass of sulphide tailing ponds |
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Authors: | Elena I Khozhina Barbara L Sherriff |
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Institution: | (1) Present address: Department of Geological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada |
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Abstract: | Flooding mine tailings to limit the oxidation of sulfides provides a habitat for aquatic organisms, such as plants, plankton,
insects, and fish, which can uptake metals and, thus, threats for local ecosystems and influence the cycling of elements in
biogeocenosis. An aquatic ecosystem developed naturally in sulphide tailing ponds containing cyanidation wastes of the Salair
ore-refining plant (SORP), Russia, was studied. The objectives of this research were to: (i) reveal the level of contamination
of living organisms in the tailing ponds compared to a natural control site and (ii) calculate the weight of metals in aquatic
biomass to estimate the amount of metals transferring from the tailing ponds into the biogechemical cycle. The concentration
of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the sediments of the tailing ponds is significantly higher than from the control site. Concentrations
of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in plant shoots were significantly higher than in the control and accumulated mainly in cell envelopes
and membranes. The concentration of Pb in fish liver and eggs were 41 and 7.5 times higher, respectively, than maximum allowable
concentrations.
The biomass distribution between producers and consumers of the tailing pond ecosystem is similar to those of natural pond
ecosystems. However, the weights of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in all trophic levels per hectare of the tailing pond are orders of
magnitude higher than those for Lake Baikal. The largest portion of metal circulates within the ecosystem of the Dyukov Ravine
Pond with a maximum of 5 to 13% of this amount transferred into the surrounding environment through the food chains. |
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