Effect of recent mining activities on sediment properties and toxicity to freshwater organisms

• The release of toxic metals from local mining activities often represents a serious environmental hazard, impacting nearby lake ecosystems and resulting in contamination that vary in both space and time. Here, we present dated (210Pb and 137Cs) sediment core results to reconstruct spatial and temporal patterns in trace element deposition in lakes (two clearing ponds and one lake) located in the vicinity of a closed lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) mine in northern Sweden. All lakes displayed increased Pb and Zn concentrations after the mining operation started (1943), whereas the organic matter content declined. Lakes used as clearing ponds received higher inputs of Pb, with a sharp increase in Pb concentration occurring when tailing ponds were constructed (1952, 1965 and 1978, respectively) and a decline after the ceasing of the activities (2001). Zn concentrations increased gradually from the mining operation started to present time. The probable effect concentration quotient (PEC-Q) predicted severe toxic effects throughout the mining and post-mining period, but with spatial and temporal differences. Although PEC-Q decreased during post-mining conditions due to reduced Pb concentrations and increased organic matter inflow to the lakes, sediment Pb concentrations were still >10 times higher than during pre-mining conditions. Our results indicate a lake-specific recovery, with slower recovery in lakes used as clearing-ponds. This study highlights the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of local impact from mining activities, both in metal load and sediment properties, leading to lake-specific ecosystem responses and recovery to metal contamination.

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Geovetenskap och miljövetenskap -- Miljövetenskap (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Earth and Related Environmental Sciences -- Environmental Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Lake sediments

mining

toxicity

recovery

heavy metal

ekotoxikologi

Ecotoxicology

environmental science

miljövetenskap

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)