Ecological and Health Risk Assessments of an Abandoned Gold Mine (Remance, Panama): Complex Scenarios Need a Combination of Indices

Ana Cristina González-Valoys, José María Esbrí, Juan Antonio Campos, Jonatha Arrocha, Eva María García-Noguero, Tisla Monteza-Destro, Ernesto Martínez, Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta, Eric Gutiérrez, Miguel Vargas-Lombardo, Efrén Garcia-Ordiales, Rosario García-Giménez, Francisco Jesús García-Navarro and Pablo Higueras
Additional contact information
Ana Cristina González-Valoys: Centro Experimental de Ingeniería, Technological University of Panama, Vía Tocumen, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
José María Esbrí: Instituto de Geología Aplicada, Castilla-La Mancha University, EIMI Almadén, Plaza Manuel Meca 1, Almadén, 13400 Ciudad Real, Spain
Juan Antonio Campos: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha University, Ronda de Calatrava 7, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Jonatha Arrocha: Centro Experimental de Ingeniería, Technological University of Panama, Vía Tocumen, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
Eva María García-Noguero: Instituto de Geología Aplicada, Castilla-La Mancha University, EIMI Almadén, Plaza Manuel Meca 1, Almadén, 13400 Ciudad Real, Spain
Tisla Monteza-Destro: Departamento de Geotecnia, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Technological University of Panama, Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue, Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso University Campus, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
Ernesto Martínez: Dirección de Investigación, Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Postgrado y Extensión, Technological University of Panama, Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue, Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso University Campus, Panamá City 0819-07289, Panama
Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta: Department of Geology & Geochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, University City of Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Eric Gutiérrez: Departamento de Geotecnia, Facultad de Ingeniería Civil, Technological University of Panama, Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue, Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso University Campus, Panama City 0819-07289, Panama
Miguel Vargas-Lombardo: Facultad de Ingeniería de Sistemas Computacionales, Technological University of Panama, Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue, Dr. Víctor Levi Sasso University Campus, Panamá City 0819-07289, Panama
Efrén Garcia-Ordiales: Mining Exploration and Prospecting Department, University of Oviedo, Independencia Street, 13, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
Rosario García-Giménez: Department of Geology & Geochemistry, Autonomous University of Madrid, University City of Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain
Francisco Jesús García-Navarro: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos de Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha University, Ronda de Calatrava 7, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
Pablo Higueras: Instituto de Geología Aplicada, Castilla-La Mancha University, EIMI Almadén, Plaza Manuel Meca 1, Almadén, 13400 Ciudad Real, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: The derelict Remance gold mine is a possible source of pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTEs). In the study area, diverse mine waste has been left behind and exposed to weather conditions, and poses risks for soil, plants and water bodies, and also for the health of local inhabitants. This study sought to perform an ecological and health risk assessment of derelict gold mining areas with incomplete remediation, including: (i) characterizing the geochemical distribution of PTEs; (ii) assessing ecological risk by estimating the pollution load index (PLI) and potential ecological risk index (RI); (iii) assessing soil health by dehydrogenase activity; and iv) establishing non-carcinogenic (HI) and carcinogenic risks (CR) for local inhabitants. Soil health seems to depend on not only PTE concentrations, but also on organic matter (OM). Both indexes (PLI and RI) ranged from high to extreme near mining and waste accumulation sites. As indicated by both the HI and CR results, the mining area poses a health risk for local inhabitants and particularly for children. For this reason, it will be necessary to set up environmental management programs in the areas that are most affected (tailings and surrounding areas) and accordingly establish the best remediation strategies to minimize risks for the local population.

Keywords: potentially toxic elements (PTEs); pollution load index (PLI); potential ecological risk index (RI); dehydrogenase activity (DHA); human risks; Panama (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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