Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review
Both sectors of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portuguese and Spanish, have been exploited since ancient times, but more intensively during and after the second half of the 19th century. Large volumes of polymetallic sulfide ore were extracted in open pits or in underground works, processed without enviro...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-01-01
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| Series: | Environments |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/1/11 |
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| author | Clarisse Mourinha Patrícia Palma Carlos Alexandre Nuno Cruz Sónia Morais Rodrigues Paula Alvarenga |
| author_facet | Clarisse Mourinha Patrícia Palma Carlos Alexandre Nuno Cruz Sónia Morais Rodrigues Paula Alvarenga |
| author_sort | Clarisse Mourinha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Both sectors of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portuguese and Spanish, have been exploited since ancient times, but more intensively during and after the second half of the 19th century. Large volumes of polymetallic sulfide ore were extracted in open pits or in underground works, processed without environmental concerns, and the generated waste rocks and tailings were simply deposited in the area. Many of these mining sites were abandoned for years under the action of erosive agents, leading to the spread of trace elements and the contamination of soils, waters and sediments. Some of these mine sites have been submitted to rehabilitation actions, mostly using constructive techniques to dig and contain the contaminated tailings and other waste materials, but the remaining soil still needs to be treated with the best available techniques to recover its ecosystem functions. Besides the degraded physical structure and poor nutritional status of these soils, they have common characteristics, as a consequence of the pyrite oxidation and acid drainage produced, such as a high concentration of trace elements and low pH, which must be considered in the remediation plans. This manuscript aims to review the results from studies which have already covered these topics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, especially in its Portuguese sector, considering: (i) soils’ physicochemical characteristics; (ii) potentially toxic trace elements’ concentration; and (iii) sustainable remediation technologies to cope with this type of soil contamination. Phytostabilization, after the amelioration of the soil’s properties with organic and inorganic amendments, was investigated at the lab and field scale by several authors, and their results were also considered. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:31:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cfdcc73fe907408fb13d144f5c68ef56 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3298 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:31:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environments |
| spelling | doaj.art-cfdcc73fe907408fb13d144f5c68ef562023-11-23T13:42:45ZengMDPI AGEnvironments2076-32982022-01-01911110.3390/environments9010011Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A ReviewClarisse Mourinha0Patrícia Palma1Carlos Alexandre2Nuno Cruz3Sónia Morais Rodrigues4Paula Alvarenga5Departamento de Tecnologias e Ciências Aplicadas, Escola Superior Agrária de Beja, 7801-295 Beja, PortugalDepartamento de Tecnologias e Ciências Aplicadas, Escola Superior Agrária de Beja, 7801-295 Beja, PortugalDepartamento de Geociências e MED-Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Universidade de Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, PortugalCESAM & Departamento de Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalCESAM & Departamento de Ambiente e Ordenamento, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalLinking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food Research Center, Associated Laboratory TERRA, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, PortugalBoth sectors of the Iberian Pyrite Belt, Portuguese and Spanish, have been exploited since ancient times, but more intensively during and after the second half of the 19th century. Large volumes of polymetallic sulfide ore were extracted in open pits or in underground works, processed without environmental concerns, and the generated waste rocks and tailings were simply deposited in the area. Many of these mining sites were abandoned for years under the action of erosive agents, leading to the spread of trace elements and the contamination of soils, waters and sediments. Some of these mine sites have been submitted to rehabilitation actions, mostly using constructive techniques to dig and contain the contaminated tailings and other waste materials, but the remaining soil still needs to be treated with the best available techniques to recover its ecosystem functions. Besides the degraded physical structure and poor nutritional status of these soils, they have common characteristics, as a consequence of the pyrite oxidation and acid drainage produced, such as a high concentration of trace elements and low pH, which must be considered in the remediation plans. This manuscript aims to review the results from studies which have already covered these topics in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, especially in its Portuguese sector, considering: (i) soils’ physicochemical characteristics; (ii) potentially toxic trace elements’ concentration; and (iii) sustainable remediation technologies to cope with this type of soil contamination. Phytostabilization, after the amelioration of the soil’s properties with organic and inorganic amendments, was investigated at the lab and field scale by several authors, and their results were also considered.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/1/11Iberian Pyrite Beltmining activitiessoil contaminationtrace elementssoil remediationphytoremediation |
| spellingShingle | Clarisse Mourinha Patrícia Palma Carlos Alexandre Nuno Cruz Sónia Morais Rodrigues Paula Alvarenga Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review Environments Iberian Pyrite Belt mining activities soil contamination trace elements soil remediation phytoremediation |
| title | Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review |
| title_full | Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review |
| title_fullStr | Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review |
| title_short | Potentially Toxic Elements’ Contamination of Soils Affected by Mining Activities in the Portuguese Sector of the Iberian Pyrite Belt and Optional Remediation Actions: A Review |
| title_sort | potentially toxic elements contamination of soils affected by mining activities in the portuguese sector of the iberian pyrite belt and optional remediation actions a review |
| topic | Iberian Pyrite Belt mining activities soil contamination trace elements soil remediation phytoremediation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/1/11 |
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