Ecotoxicity of Mine Tailings: Unrehabilitated Versus Rehabilitated
Earthworms are bioindicators of soil pollution. The ecotoxicity of tailings from selected gold mines in South Africa was investigated utilizing Eisenia andrei bioassays and biomarkers. Samples were obtained from unrehabilitated, rehabilitated and naturally vegetated sites. Biomass, neutral red reten...
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Published in | Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 100; no. 5; pp. 702 - 707 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
New York
Springer US
01.05.2018
Springer Nature B.V |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Earthworms are bioindicators of soil pollution. The ecotoxicity of tailings from selected gold mines in South Africa was investigated utilizing
Eisenia andrei
bioassays and biomarkers. Samples were obtained from unrehabilitated, rehabilitated and naturally vegetated sites. Biomass, neutral red retention time (NRRT), survival and reproduction were assessed using standardized protocols. Earthworm biomass, NRRT and reproductive success in rehabilitated tailings (comparable to naturally vegetated site) were significantly higher (
p
< 0.05) than in unrehabilitated tailings. In addition, significantly lower (
p
< 0.05) body tissue concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cu and Ni contents were found in the rehabilitated tailings compared to the unrehabilitated. Further, significantly lower (
p
< 0.05) soil Mn and Zn concentrations were obtained in unrehabilitated tailings than the rehabilitated and naturally vegetated sites. Overall, reduced ecotoxicity effects were confirmed in rehabilitated compared to unrehabilitated tailings. This suggests that rehabilitation as a post-mining restorative strategy has strong positive influence on mine tailings. |
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ISSN: | 0007-4861 1432-0800 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00128-018-2322-8 |