TY - JOUR
T1 - Indoor metallic pollution related to mining activity in the Bolivian Altiplano
AU - Fontúrbel, Francisco E.
AU - Barbieri, Enio
AU - Herbas, Cristian
AU - Barbieri, Flavia L.
AU - Gardon, Jacques
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank all the house owners who allowed us to take samples in their homes. S. Ignacio helped with the questionnaire surveys. E. Silva helped with the statistical analyses. R. Llano collaborated with a map. FEF was supported by a doctoral fellowship of the Chilean Foundation for Science (CONICYT) . This study was conducted in the frame of the ToxBol project, supported by the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR).
PY - 2011/10
Y1 - 2011/10
N2 - The environmental pollution associated with mining and metallurgical activities reaches its greatest extent in several Andean cities and villages. Many locations in this area have accumulated through centuries a large amount of mining wastes, often disregarding the magnitude of this situation. However, in these naturally mineralized regions, there is little information available stating the exact role of mining and metallurgical industries in urban pollution. In this study, we demonstrated that the various metallic elements present in indoor dust (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn) had a common origin and this contamination was increased by the proximity to the mines. Lead dust concentration was found at concerning levels for public health. In addition, wrong behaviors such as carrying mining workwear home contributed to this indoor dust pollution. Consequently, the constant exposure of the population could represent a potential health hazard for vulnerable groups, especially children.
AB - The environmental pollution associated with mining and metallurgical activities reaches its greatest extent in several Andean cities and villages. Many locations in this area have accumulated through centuries a large amount of mining wastes, often disregarding the magnitude of this situation. However, in these naturally mineralized regions, there is little information available stating the exact role of mining and metallurgical industries in urban pollution. In this study, we demonstrated that the various metallic elements present in indoor dust (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn) had a common origin and this contamination was increased by the proximity to the mines. Lead dust concentration was found at concerning levels for public health. In addition, wrong behaviors such as carrying mining workwear home contributed to this indoor dust pollution. Consequently, the constant exposure of the population could represent a potential health hazard for vulnerable groups, especially children.
KW - Geostatistical analysis
KW - Household dust
KW - Human exposure
KW - Metallic trace element
KW - Mining pollution
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80052323849&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.04.039
DO - 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.04.039
M3 - Article
C2 - 21620542
AN - SCOPUS:80052323849
SN - 0269-7491
VL - 159
SP - 2870
EP - 2875
JO - Environmental Pollution
JF - Environmental Pollution
IS - 10
ER -
