Ramirez-Ortiz Juliana, Duran-Izquierdo Margareth, Sierra-Marquez Lucellys, Olivero-Verbel Jesus
Environmental and Computational Chemistry Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Cartagena, Zaragocilla Campus, Cartagena, 130015, Colombia.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2025 Sep 9;115(3):41. doi: 10.1007/s00128-025-04096-9.
The use of mercury (Hg) in artisanal gold mining in San Martin de Loba (SML), Bolivar, Colombia, poses significant environmental and health risks. This study aimed to evaluate total mercury (T-Hg) concentrations in chicken feathers (Gallus gallus) and soils from SML, and compare them with those obtained in a reference site without mining activity (Arjona). A total of 40 chickens and 30 soil samples were taken in SML, along with 31 chickens and 21 soil samples in Arjona. Using the Lumex RA-915 + analyzer, mean T-Hg levels in breast feathers, wing feather rachises, and barbs were 2.37 ± 0.42, 0.72 ± 0.32, 2.97 ± 1.26 µg/g in SML, and 0.41 ± 0.05, 0.23 ± 0.04, 0.76 ± 0.07 µg/g in Arjona, respectively. The average total mercury (T-Hg) concentration in soils from SML was 45.5 ± 12.4 µg/g, markedly exceeding the levels found in Arjona (0.04 ± 0.001 µg/g). The findings indicate severe contamination in SML soils and bioaccumulation in local birds eaten by humans, representing health risks to consumers.
在哥伦比亚玻利瓦尔省圣马丁德洛巴（SML）的手工金矿开采中使用汞（Hg），会带来重大的环境和健康风险。本研究旨在评估SML地区鸡毛（家鸡）和土壤中的总汞（T-Hg）浓度，并将其与在无采矿活动的参考地点（阿尔霍纳）获得的浓度进行比较。在SML共采集了40只鸡和30个土壤样本，在阿尔霍纳采集了31只鸡和21个土壤样本。使用Lumex RA-915 +分析仪，SML地区鸡胸羽、翅羽羽轴和羽支中的平均T-Hg水平分别为2.37±0.42、0.72±0.32、2.97±1.26μg/g，阿尔霍纳地区分别为0.41±0.05、0.23±0.04、0.76±0.07μg/g。SML地区土壤中的平均总汞（T-Hg）浓度为45.5±12.4μg/g，明显超过阿尔霍纳地区（0.04±0.001μg/g）的水平。研究结果表明，SML地区的土壤受到严重污染，当地供人类食用的鸟类体内存在生物累积现象，这对消费者构成了健康风险。
