Mine Water Discharge Chemistry and Potential Risk in a Former Mining Area
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Study Area
2.2. Sampling and Analytical Methods
2.3. Pollution Indices
2.4. Human Health Risk Assessment to Metals via Water Consumption
2.5. Data Analysis
3. Results and Discussions
3.1. Hydrochemical Properties
3.2. Potential Ecological Risk
3.3. Health Risk Assessment via Water Consumption
3.3.1. Non-Carcinogenic Risk to Metals Through Water Consumption
3.3.2. Carcinogenic Risk to Metals Through Water Consumption
3.4. Statistical Analysis
3.5. Water Typology
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Sample | Mining Area | Sampling Site Description |
---|---|---|
M1 | Baia Mare | Surface water from Baita River, after the confluence with Tyuzosa mine drainage |
M2 | Mine drainage from Tarnita mine gallery, collected near the Baita village | |
M3 | Mine drainage from Reiner mine gallery, collected near the Cavnic town | |
M4 | Surface water from Red Valley, after the input of Campurele mine drainage treatment plant, collected upstream Baita Valley confluence | |
M5 | Mine drainage from Cavnic mine gallery, collected near Cavnic town | |
M6 | Mine drainage from Herja mine gallery, collected near Baia Sprie town | |
M7 | Mine drainage from Baiut mine gallery, collected near Targu Lapus town | |
M8 | Mine drainage from Sasar mine galleries, collected near Baia Mare city | |
M9 | Baia Borsa | Mine drainage from Emerik mine gallery, collected near Baia Borsa town |
M10 | Mine drainage from Colbu mine gallery, collected near Baia Borsa town | |
M11 | Mine drainage from Burloaia mine gallery, collected near Baia Borsa town | |
M12 | Mine drainage from Gura Baii mine gallery, collected near Baia Borsa town |
MAC (µg/L) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Surface water 1 | Be | V | Cr | Co | Ni | Cu | As | Mo | Cd | Sn | Ba | Tl | Pb |
0.05 | 1.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 7.2 | 3.6 | 1.0 | 2.2 | 200 | 2.0 | 1.7 | |
Wastewater discharged in natural receptors 2 | Al | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | As | Mo | Cd | Pb | - |
5000 | 1000 | 1000 | 5000 | 1000 | 500 | 100 | 500 | 100 | 100 | 200 | 200 | - | |
REEs 3 | Y | La | Ce | Pr | Nd | Sm | Gd | Dy | - | - | - | - | - |
6.4 | 10.1 | 22.1 | 9.1 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 7.1 | 9.3 | - | - | - | - | - |
Parameter | pH | TDS (mg/L) | Na (µg/L) | Mg (µg/L) | Al (µg/L) | K (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 5.28 ± 3.96 (2.34–7.49) | 2216 ± 2112 (594–4150) | 10,772 ± 12,104 (4523–23,941) | 38,033 ± 58,636 (6468–92,489) | 8083 ± 184,978 (72.8–51,934) | 3434 ± 4704 (1316–8895) |
Parameter | Ca (µg/L) | Mn (µg/L) | Fe (µg/L) | Co (µg/L) | Ni (µg/L) | Cu (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 135,368 ± 130,858 (48,126–24,2061) | 25,085 ± 119,198 (48.2–212,247) | 22,975 ± 62,386 (372–94,569) | 69.6 ± 252 (0.674–459) | 56.2 ± 76.4 (11.1–135) | 253 ± 702 (16,386–1236) |
Parameter | Zn (µg/L) | As (µg/L) | Cr (µg/L) | Mo (µg/L) | Cd (µg/L) | Pb (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 12492 ± 24346 (317–40469) | 13.2 ± 22.8 (1.05–31.3) | 9.19 ± 13.9 (2.55–22.3) | 1.30 ± 3.02 (0.199–5.57) | 39.7 ± 98.4 (0.339–164) | 7.76 ± 15.34 (<0.010–20.1) |
Parameter | Li (µg/L) | Be (µg/L) | Ba (µg/L) | La (µg/L) | Ce (µg/L) | Pr (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 86.4 ± 177 (21.1–345) | 2.86 ± 12.5 (0.024–22.1) | 33.4 ± 71.8 (11.7–144) | 51.6 ± 226 (0.424–404) | 144 ± 674 (0.335–1198) | 19.6 ± 96.8 (0.049–172) |
Parameter | Nd (µg/L) | Sm (µg/L) | Eu (µg/L) | Gd (µg/L) | Tb (µg/L) | Dy (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 57.7 ± 236 (0.193–417) | 14.5 ± 61.8 (0.048–109) | 4.65 ± 21.0 (0.025–36.9) | 23.0 ± 102.6 (0.054–181) | 3.49 ± 16.04 (0.010–28.3) | 20.3 ± 95.6 (0.043–169) |
Parameter | Ho (µg/L) | Er (µg/L) | Tm (µg/L) | Yb (µg/L) | Lu (µg/L) | Rb (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 3.93 ± 18.74 (0.011–33.1) | 10.1 ± 48.6 (0.021–85.8) | 1.29 ± 6.24 (<0.004–11.0) | 7.46 ± 36.4 (0.023–64.1) | 1.10 ± 5.38 (<0.003–9.50) | 25.2 ± 53.8 (3.38–80.5) |
Parameter | Sr (µg/L) | Y (µg/L) | Zr (µg/L) | Sn (µg/L) | Cs (µg/L) | U (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 502 ± 562 (110–975) | 59.2 ± 268 (0.259–475 | 0.886 ± 1.130 (0.372–2.23) | 3.41 ± 7.66 (1.10–15.1) | 7.03 ± 16.54 (0.208–24.9) | 2.26 ± 5.46 (<0.005–8.57) |
Parameter | Th (µg/L) | Tl (µg/L) | Sc (µg/L) | Ti (µg/L) | Sb (µg/L) | V (µg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 0.742 ± 1.816 (0.021–2.48) | 1.69 ± 6.26 (<0.007–9.99) | 11.2 ± 25.8 (1.59–49.8) | 212 ± 199 (109–412) | 1.28 ± 3.32 (0.107–4.86) | 2.65 ± 9.62 (0.241–15.1) |
Parameter | ΣLREE (µg/L) | ΣHREE (µg/L) | ΣREE (µg/L) | ΣREY (µg/L) | Acidity (mg/L CaCO3) | Alcalinity (mg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 288 ± 1292 (1.05–2299) | 75.3 ± 350 (0.193–618) | 363 ± 1642 (1.24–2917) | 433 ± 1934 (8.70–3442) | 43.8 ± 85.4 (0–100) | 0.875 ± 1.708 (0–2.00) |
Parameter | SO42− (mg/L) | HCO3− (mg/L) | NO2− (mg/L) | NO3− (mg/L) | F− (mg/L) | Cl− (mg/L) |
m ± 2 s (min–max) | 1264 ± 4620 (74.4–8500) | 53.4 ± 104.2 (0–122) | 1.09 ± 2.10 (0.025–3.70) | 1.94 ± 3.76 (0.10–5.31) | 1.60 ± 3.48 (0.025–4.70) | 6.63 ± 8.66 (0.690–12.5) |
Element | RfD 1 | CDI | HQ | HI | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
m ± 2 s | Min–Max | m ± 2 s | Min–Max | m ± 2 s (Min–Max) | ||
Al | 2.86 × 10−1 | 0.29 ± 1.1 | 0.003–1.9 | 1.0 ± 3.7 | 0.01–6.5 | 91.8 ± 262 (4.54–466) |
V | 5.04 × 10−3 | 9.0 × 10−5 ± 3.4 × 10−4 | 1.0 × 10−5–5.4 × 10−4 | 0.02 ± 0.07 | 0.002–0.11 | |
Cr | 3.00 × 10−3 | 3.0 × 10−4 ± 4.0 × 10−4 | 1.0 × 10−4–8.0 × 10−4 | 0.11 ± 0.16 | 0.03–0.27 | |
Mn | 2.40 × 10−2 | 0.92 ± 4.3 | 0.002–7.6 | 37 ± 177 | 0.07–316 | |
Fe | 7.00 × 10−1 | 0.82 ± 2.2 | 0.013–3.4 | 1.2 ± 3.2 | 0.02–4.8 | |
Co | 3.00 × 10−3 | 2.0 × 10−3 ± 1.0 × 10−2 | 2.0 × 10−5–1.6 × 10−2 | 8.3 ± 30 | 0.08–55 | |
Ni | 2.00 × 10−2 | 2.0 × 10−3 ± 2.0 × 10−3 | 4.0 × 10−4–5.0 × 10−3 | 0.10 ± 0.14 | 0.02–0.24 | |
Cu | 4.00 × 10−2 | 9.0 × 10−3 ± 2.6 × 10−2 | 1.0 × 10−3–4.4 × 10−2 | 0.23 ± 0.63 | 0.02–1.1 | |
Zn | 3.00 × 10−1 | 0.45 ± 0.87 | 0.011–1.45 | 1.5 ± 2.9 | 0.04–4.8 | |
Sr | 6.00 × 10−1 | 0.02 ± 0.02 | 0.004–0.035 | 0.03 ± 0.03 | 0.01–0.06 | |
Mo | 5.00 × 10−3 | 5.0 × 10−5 ± 1.0 × 10−4 | 1.0 × 10−5–2.0 × 10−4 | 9.3 × 10−3 ± 2.2 × 10−2 | 1.4 × 10−3–4.0 × 10−2 | |
Cd | 1.00 × 10−4 | 1.4 × 10−3 ± 3.6 × 10−3 | 1.0 × 10−5–6.0 × 10−3 | 14 ± 35 | 0.12–58.4 | |
Pb | 3.00 × 10−4 | 2.8 × 10−4 ± 5.4 × 10−4 | 4.0 × 10−7–7.0 × 10−4 | 0.92 ± 1.8 | 1.2 × 10−3–2.4 | |
U | 2.00 × 10−4 | 8.0 × 10−4 ± 1.8 × 10−4 | 2.0 × 10−7 –3.1 × 10−4 | 0.40 ± 0.97 | 0.001–1.5 | |
Li | 2.00 × 10−3 | 3.0 × 10−3 ± 6.0 × 10−3 | 0.001–0.012 | 1.5 ± 3.2 | 0.38–6.2 | |
Th | 1.00 | 2.7 × 10−5 ± 6.4 × 10−5 | 8.0 × 10−7–8.9 × 10−5 | 2.7 ± 6.5 | 0.08–8.9 | |
Tl | 3.00 × 10−6 | 6.0 × 10−5 ± 2.2 × 10−4 | 2.3 × 10−7 –35.7 × 10−5 | 20 ± 74 | 0.08–119 | |
Sb | 4.00 × 10−4 | 4.6 × 10−5 ± 1.2 × 10−4 | 3.8 × 10−6 –1.74 × 10−5 | 0.11 ± 0.30 | 9.6 × 10−3–4.34 × 10−1 | |
Zr | 8.00 × 10−5 | 3.2 × 10−5 ± 4.0 × 10−5 | 1.3 × 10−5 –7.9 × 10−5 | 0.40 ± 0.50 | 0.17–0.99 | |
Ba | 2.00 × 10−1 | 1.2 × 10−3 ± 2.6 × 10−3 | 4.0 × 10−4–5.2 × 10−3 | 6.0 × 10−3 ± 1.3 × 10−2 | 2.1 × 10−3–2.6 × 10−2 | |
As | 3.00 × 10−4 | 4.7 × 10−4 ± 8.2 × 10−4 | 3.8 × 10−5–1.1 × 10−3 | 0.79 ± 2.1 | 0.06–1.9 | |
∑REE | 2.00 × 10−2 | 0.01 ± 0.06 | 4.4 × 10−5–1.0 × 10−1 | 0.65 ± 2.9 | 2.2 × 10−3–5.2 | |
Sc | 2.00 × 10−2 | 4.0 × 10−5 ± 1.0 × 10−5 | 5.7 × 10−5–1.8 × 10−3 | 0.02 ± 0.05 | 2.8 × 10−3–8.9 × 10−2 | |
Y | 2.00 × 10−2 | 2.1 × 10−3 ± 9.6 × 10−3 | 9.3 × 10−6–1.7 × 10−2 | 0.11 ± 0.48 | 5.0 × 10−4–8.5 × 10−1 |
Element | CR | |
---|---|---|
m ± 2 s | Min–Max | |
Pb | 2.4 × 10−6 ± 4.7 × 10−6 | 3.0 × 10−9–6.1 × 10−6 |
Cd | 8.9 × 10−3 ± 2.2 × 10−2 | 7.6 × 10−5–3.681 × 10−2 |
As | 0.79 ± 0.0012 | 0.062–1.9 |
Cr | 1.6 × 10−4 ± 2.5 × 10−4 | 4.6 × 10−5–4.0 × 10−4 |
REEs | 4.1 × 10−14 ± 1.9 × 10−13 | 1.4 × 10−16–3.3 × 10−13 |
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Miclean, M.; Cadar, O.; Muntean, A.; Levei, L. Mine Water Discharge Chemistry and Potential Risk in a Former Mining Area. Environments 2025, 12, 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12030076
Miclean M, Cadar O, Muntean A, Levei L. Mine Water Discharge Chemistry and Potential Risk in a Former Mining Area. Environments. 2025; 12(3):76. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12030076
Chicago/Turabian StyleMiclean, Mirela, Oana Cadar, Adriana Muntean, and Levente Levei. 2025. "Mine Water Discharge Chemistry and Potential Risk in a Former Mining Area" Environments 12, no. 3: 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12030076
APA StyleMiclean, M., Cadar, O., Muntean, A., & Levei, L. (2025). Mine Water Discharge Chemistry and Potential Risk in a Former Mining Area. Environments, 12(3), 76. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12030076