Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10049, China.
Sci Total Environ. 2018 Aug 15;633:958-966. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.227. Epub 2018 Mar 28.
To better assess pollution and offer efficient protection for local residents, it is necessary to both conduct an exhaustive investigation into pollution levels and quantify its contributing sources and paths. As it is the biggest light rare earth element (REE) reserve in the world, Bayan Obo deposit releases large amounts of heavy metals into the surrounding environment. In this study, road dust from zones located at different distances to the mining area was collected and sieved using seven sizes. This allowed for subsequent analysis of size-dependent influences of mining activities. A receptor model was used to quantitatively assess mine contributions. REE distribution patterns and other REE parameters were compared with those in airborne particulates and the surrounding soil to analyze pollution paths. Results showed that 27 metals were rated as moderately to extremely polluted (2<geo-accumulation index<6) in both mine processing and residential areas. REEs are the most polluted elements, followed by Mo, Cd, Pb, and Ag. Although mining contribution to pollution levels increased with decreasing distance and size, 35% of REEs and 6% of other polluted metals in residential area road dust originated directly from the mine. The provenance index (PI) calculated using the REE parameters confirmed this result. While the REE distribution pattern showed that airborne particulates may not be the path for mining-derived particles, they may be one for other sources.
为了更好地评估污染状况并为当地居民提供有效的保护，有必要对污染水平进行全面调查，并量化其来源和途径。白云鄂博矿床是世界上最大的轻稀土元素（REE）储备地，它向周围环境中释放了大量重金属。在这项研究中，采集了距离矿区不同距离的道路灰尘，并使用七种尺寸进行筛选。这使得后续能够分析采矿活动对尺寸的依赖性影响。使用受体模型来定量评估矿山的贡献。REE 分布模式和其他 REE 参数与空气中的颗粒物和周围土壤进行了比较，以分析污染途径。结果表明，矿区和居民区的 27 种金属的污染程度均被评为中度到极度污染（2<geo-accumulation index<6）。REE 是污染最严重的元素，其次是 Mo、Cd、Pb 和 Ag。尽管随着距离和尺寸的减小，采矿对污染水平的贡献增加，但居民区道路灰尘中 35%的 REE 和 6%的其他污染金属直接来自矿山。使用 REE 参数计算的源指数（PI）证实了这一结果。尽管 REE 分布模式表明，空气中的颗粒物可能不是采矿衍生颗粒的途径，但它们可能是其他来源的途径。
