Environmental Assessment by Metallic Trace Elements of Gold Soils – Case of Chami (Dakhlet Nouadhibou, Mauritania)

• Autorzy: El Hadi Sidi Mohamed , Hamoud Ahmed , Chakiri Said , El Hadi Hassan , Sabbar Mohamed Salem , Abdeina El Houssein , Baghdad Bouamar , Zerdeb Mohammed Amine , Vall Mohamed

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.12912/27197050/168452

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

In the Inchiri region of northern Mauritania, the discovery of new artisanal methods for extracting gold has made the town of Chami a strategic location for gold miners and their mining operations. Despite the importance of this activity in the country’s economy, to the significant revenues it provides, it is still likely to have a negative impact on the various environmental compartments. The objective of this study was to assess the environmental impact of trace metal elements (ETM) from gold panning in the soils of Chami area. For this purpose, forty soil samples were collected during a field mission in May 2022. The geochemical analyses of the ETM (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Ni and Zn) were carried out at the ALS laboratory in Dublin, using the inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) technique. The results show that the concentrations of ETM in soils differ according to the sampling station and the considered metal. These concentrations sometimes exceed the normal thresholds. The average value of the pollution index is higher than 1, revealing soil contamination by several elements (As, Cu, Hg and Pb). The geo-accumulation index varying between 0 and 4 shows a medium to high soil pollution class. The correlation matrix obtained shows positive correlations between the studied elements, which suggest that they have the same anthropic origin. These results show an accumulation of metals in soils that can persist in the environment, especially Hg, the most toxic element that is easy to diffuse and change speciation, in addition to being capable of causing risks to the environment and human health.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

gold mining; soil; pollution assessment; heavy metals; Chami; Mauritania

• Wydawca: Lubelski Oddział Polskiego Towarzystwo Inżynierii Ekologicznej ; Lublin University of Technology ; WNGB Wydawnictwo Naukowe
• Czasopismo: Ecological Engineering & Environmental Technology
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: Vol. 24, iss. 6
• Strony: 239--249
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 30 poz., rys., tab.

Twórcy

autor

El Hadi Sidi Mohamed

• Department of Geology, University Ibn Tofail, Campus Universitaire, 14000, Kénitra, Morocco
• Department of Geology, University of Nouakchott, Av Roi Faiçal, Nouakchott, Mauritania

• https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8814-0493

autor

Hamoud Ahmed

• Department of Geology, University of Nouakchott, Av Roi Faiçal, Nouakchott, Mauritania

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7537-8628

autor

Chakiri Said

• Department of Geology, University Ibn Tofail, Campus Universitaire, 14000, Kénitra, Morocco

• https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7781-1192

autor

El Hadi Hassan

• 16 Lot Michel Harhoura, Témara plage, Morocco

• https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1041-3821

autor

Sabbar Mohamed Salem

• Department of Geology, University of Nouakchott, Av Roi Faiçal, Nouakchott, Mauritania

• https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1097-5391

autor

Abdeina El Houssein

• Department of Geology, University of Nouakchott, Av Roi Faiçal, Nouakchott, Mauritania

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0480-2284

autor

Baghdad Bouamar

• Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hassan II Agronomy and Veterinary Institute, Rue Allal Al Fassi Madinate Al Irfane, 1010, Rabat, Morocco

• https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4174-8130

autor

Zerdeb Mohammed Amine

• Department of Geology, University Ibn Tofail, Campus Universitaire, 14000, Kénitra, Morocco

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2391-7984

autor

Vall Mohamed

• Ministry of Petroleu, Mining and Energies, Av de la plage Carrefour Hôpital Sabah, BP: 4921, Nouakchott, Mauritania

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2391-7984

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