Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine
Carbonaceous–siliceous–argillaceous rock-type uranium deposits, a major uranium resource in China, pose significant environmental risks due to heavy metal contamination. Geochemical investigations in the former Zoige uranium mine revealed elevated As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, U, and Zn concentrations in soil...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| author | Na Zhang Zeming Shi Chengjie Zou Yinghai Zhu Yun Hou |
| author_facet | Na Zhang Zeming Shi Chengjie Zou Yinghai Zhu Yun Hou |
| author_sort | Na Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Carbonaceous–siliceous–argillaceous rock-type uranium deposits, a major uranium resource in China, pose significant environmental risks due to heavy metal contamination. Geochemical investigations in the former Zoige uranium mine revealed elevated As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, U, and Zn concentrations in soils and sediments, particularly at river confluences and downstream regions, attributed to leachate migration from ore bodies and tailings ponds. Surface samples exhibited high Cd bioavailability. The integrated BCR and mineral analysis reveals that Acid-soluble and reducible fractions of Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb are governed by carbonate dissolution and Fe-Mn oxide dynamics via silicate weathering, while residual and oxidizable fractions show weak mineral-phase dependencies. Positive Matrix Factorization identified natural lithogenic, anthropogenic–natural composite, mining-related sources. Pollution assessments using geo-accumulation index and contamination factor demonstrated severe contamination disparities: soils showed extreme Cd pollution, moderate U, As, Zn contamination, and no Cr, Pb pollution (overall moderate risk); sediments exhibited extreme Cd pollution, moderate Ni, Zn, U levels, and negligible Cr, Pb impacts (overall extreme risk). USEPA health risk models indicated notable non-carcinogenic (higher in adults) and carcinogenic risks (higher in children) for both age groups. Ecological risk assessments categorized As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn as low risk, contrasting with Cd (extremely high risk) and sediment-bound U (high risk). These findings underscore mining legacy as a critical environmental stressor and highlight the necessity for multi-source pollution mitigation strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-53a553586c1841b789a8151c2b5fd58b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2305-6304 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-53a553586c1841b789a8151c2b5fd58b2025-08-20T03:07:57ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-06-0113756110.3390/toxics13070561Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium MineNa Zhang0Zeming Shi1Chengjie Zou2Yinghai Zhu3Yun Hou4College of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCollege of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCollege of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCollege of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCollege of Earth Sciences, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu 610059, ChinaCarbonaceous–siliceous–argillaceous rock-type uranium deposits, a major uranium resource in China, pose significant environmental risks due to heavy metal contamination. Geochemical investigations in the former Zoige uranium mine revealed elevated As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, U, and Zn concentrations in soils and sediments, particularly at river confluences and downstream regions, attributed to leachate migration from ore bodies and tailings ponds. Surface samples exhibited high Cd bioavailability. The integrated BCR and mineral analysis reveals that Acid-soluble and reducible fractions of Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb are governed by carbonate dissolution and Fe-Mn oxide dynamics via silicate weathering, while residual and oxidizable fractions show weak mineral-phase dependencies. Positive Matrix Factorization identified natural lithogenic, anthropogenic–natural composite, mining-related sources. Pollution assessments using geo-accumulation index and contamination factor demonstrated severe contamination disparities: soils showed extreme Cd pollution, moderate U, As, Zn contamination, and no Cr, Pb pollution (overall moderate risk); sediments exhibited extreme Cd pollution, moderate Ni, Zn, U levels, and negligible Cr, Pb impacts (overall extreme risk). USEPA health risk models indicated notable non-carcinogenic (higher in adults) and carcinogenic risks (higher in children) for both age groups. Ecological risk assessments categorized As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn as low risk, contrasting with Cd (extremely high risk) and sediment-bound U (high risk). These findings underscore mining legacy as a critical environmental stressor and highlight the necessity for multi-source pollution mitigation strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/561Zoige uranium minePTEssequential extractionsource apportionmentecological health risksediment |
| spellingShingle | Na Zhang Zeming Shi Chengjie Zou Yinghai Zhu Yun Hou Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine Toxics Zoige uranium mine PTEs sequential extraction source apportionment ecological health risk sediment |
| title | Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine |
| title_full | Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine |
| title_fullStr | Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine |
| title_short | Geochemical Characteristics and Risk Assessment of PTEs in the Supergene Environment of the Former Zoige Uranium Mine |
| title_sort | geochemical characteristics and risk assessment of ptes in the supergene environment of the former zoige uranium mine |
| topic | Zoige uranium mine PTEs sequential extraction source apportionment ecological health risk sediment |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/561 |
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