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An As-contaminated perched aquifer under an urban area affected by mining was studied over a year to determine the contamination source species and the mechanism of As mobilization. Results show that the dissolution of calcium arsenates in residues disposed on an inactive smelter has caused high levels of As pollution in the adjoining downgradient 6-km perched aquifer, reaching up to 158 mg/L of dissolved As, and releasing a total of ca. 7.5 tons of As in a year. Furthermore, free calcium ion availability was found to control As mobility in the aquifer through the diagenetic precipitation of calcium arsenates (Ca5H2(AsO4)4·cH2O) preventing further mobilization of As. Results shown here represent a model for understanding a highly underreported mechanism of retention of arsenate species likely to dominate in calcium-rich environments, such as those in calcareous sediments and soils, where the commonly reported mechanism of adsorption to iron(III) oxyhydroxides is not the dominant process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Acidic water-soluble efflorescent salts in mining residues commonly form from sulfide oxidation and are particularly prevalent in semi-arid to arid environments. These salts are easily carried by winds and may contaminate the environment and affect human health, especially because they contain potentially toxic metals and have high solubilities. In this work, efflorescent salts from four mining sites in Mexico were characterized by X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis. They produced acidic pH values upon dissolution, and were found to be composed mostly of soluble sulfates of Ca(II), Mg(II), Zn(II) and/or Cu(II), and to a lesser extent of Fe(II/III) and/or Al, of variable stoichiometries, crystal water contents and crystallinity. Their physical and chemical characteristics varied highly depending on the underlying geochemical matrix and on the composition of the original mining residues, but gypsum was present in all samples. Two selected samples were dissolved and the solution neutralized, causing substantial precipitation of solids. The precipitates, at pH 7 were found to contain the Cu and/or Zn - rich hydroxysulfates: lahnsteinite [Zn 4 (OH) 6 SO 4 ·3H 2 O], or schulenbergite [Cu 3 Zn 4 (OH) 10 (SO 4) 2 ]. Solubility product constants were determined on these, and on other solids produced in the absence of certain major components [such as sulfate or Zn(II)], by a combination of chemical measurements and geochemical code calculations to speciate some of the components found. These results should enhance thermodynamic properties of databases and help to predict what phases form if pH neutralization occurs or is used for remediation purposes. [Display omitted] • Efflorescent salts are composed of acidic sulfates of Ca, Mg, Zn, Cu, Al and/or Fe. • Neutralizing dissolved salts produces large amounts of Cu-Zn hydroxysulfate solids. • Zn-containing salts produces Lahnsteinite [Zn 4 (OH) 6 SO 4 ·3H 2 O] upon neutralization. • Zn and Cu -containing salts formed schulenbergite [Cu 3 Zn 4 (OH) 10 (SO 4) 2 ] at pH ca. 7. • K sp of schulenbergite was determined for the first time, and changed for other phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Although the burden of lead poisoning has decreased across developed countries, it remains the most prevalent environmental poison worldwide. Our objective was to investigate the sources of an outbreak of lead poisoning in Monterey County, California., Methods: An investigation in 3 county health department clinics in Monterey County, California, was conducted between 2001 and 2003 to identify risk factors for elevated blood lead levels (> or = 10 microg/dL) among children and pregnant women., Results: The prevalence of elevated blood lead levels was significantly higher in 1 of the 3 clinics (6% among screened children and 13% among prenatal patients). Risk factors included eating imported foods (relative risk [RR]=3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2, 9.5) and having originated from the Zimatlan area of Oaxaca, Mexico, compared with other areas of Oaxaca (RR=4.0; 95% CI=1.7, 9.5). Home-prepared dried grasshoppers (chapulines) sent from Oaxaca were found to contain significant amounts of lead., Conclusions: Consumption of foods imported from Oaxaca was identified as a risk factor for elevated blood lead levels in Monterey County, California. Lead-contaminated imported chapulines were identified as 1 source of lead poisoning, although other sources may also contribute to the observed findings. Food transport between binational communities presents a unique risk for the importation of environmental hazards [corrected]