Arsenic and mercury in the landscape of a historic mining zone in Eastern Michoacán, Mexico

Abstract

Mining has negative effects during all the stages of the processes involved and at all ecological levels, all of which frequently cause harm to local communities. One negative effect of particular concern is the entry of heavy metals into trophic nets in mining areas, because of this is important to quantify their presence because of mining activities. The mining district of Tlalpujahua y El Oro has a mining history of more than 400 years, that ended more than 60 years ago. In this district, one method that was employed to process the minerals was flotation by mercury. Because of this, we studied its presence in water samples of Tlalpujahua. The results from sampling diverse water sources of the town indicate that mercury and arsenic concentrations are below the detection limit or below the limit established by the applicable norm. With these results and those of former studies an environmental management proposal is made for reducing the risks to the population caused by the presence of mercury in the landscape.