Heavy Metal Pollution from Gold Mines: Environmental Effects and Bacterial Strategies for Resistance.

Int J Environ Res Public Health

Food Security and Safety Niche Area, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa.

Published: October 2016

Mining activities can lead to the generation of large quantities of heavy metal laden wastes which are released in an uncontrolled manner, causing widespread contamination of the ecosystem. Though some heavy metals classified as essential are important for normal life physiological processes, higher concentrations above stipulated levels have deleterious effects on human health and biota. Bacteria able to withstand high concentrations of these heavy metals are found in the environment as a result of various inherent biochemical, physiological, and/or genetic mechanisms. These mechanisms can serve as potential tools for bioremediation of heavy metal polluted sites. This review focuses on the effects of heavy metal wastes generated from gold mining activities on the environment and the various mechanisms used by bacteria to counteract the effect of these heavy metals in their immediate environment.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5129257PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph13111047DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

heavy metal
16
heavy metals
12
mining activities
8
metals environment
8
heavy
7
metal pollution
4
pollution gold
4
gold mines
4
mines environmental
4
environmental effects
4

Similar Publications

Ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) is widely used to correct anemia and replenish iron stores rapidly, particularly in Western populations. However, lower doses of FCM are typically used in East Asia, with limited research on their effectiveness, especially in postpartum women. This randomized controlled trial aimed to assess the efficacy of low-dose FCM compared with oral ferrous sulfate in increasing postpartum hemoglobin (Hb) levels and replenishing iron stores in East Asian women.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of Plant-Ag-graphene nanocomposites through a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, the nanocomposites were formed by catalyzing silver nanoparticles with plant extracts, and the resulting structures were analyzed using advanced instrumentation. In the FTIR analysis, distinctive peaks were observed at 3340 cm⁻1 (O-H stretching), 1740 cm⁻1 (C = O stretching), and 1050 cm⁻1. When compared to silver nanoparticles, the nanocomposites exhibited altered peak intensities, indicating modifications in chemical bonding.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The nutritional status of communities susceptible to Buruli ulcer (BU, a skin NTD caused by infection with Mycobacterium ulcerans) remains almost completely obscure. We have assessed the diets of BU patients vs. controls from the same BU-endemic communities, and compared their circulating biomarkers of nutrients and inflammation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fluorescence-based photoinduced electron transfer (PET) has garnered significant attention in the molecular recognition field in recent years because of its unique and desirable photophysical properties. Recent advancements in PET-based chemosensors have demonstrated their potential for real-time monitoring of pollutants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and organic contaminants in various environmental matrices. This review emphasizes the recent advancements in fluorogenic and chromogenic PET-based chemosensors based on Anthracene, Imidazole, Indole, Pyrrole, Thiazole, Naphthalene, Quinoline, Calix[4]arene, Fluorescein, Quantum Dots, Schiff base compounds and also focusing on their molecular design, sensing mechanisms, and photophysical properties reported from the year 2011 to 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

With the advancement of industrial production and urban modernization, pollution from heavy metal ions and the accumulation of solid waste have become critical global environmental challenges. Establishing an effective recycling system for solid waste and removing heavy metals from wastewater is essential. Coal gangue was used in this study as the primary material for the synthesis of a fully coal gangue-based phosphorus-silicon-aluminum (SAPO-5) molecular sieve through a hydrothermal process.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!