Mine à Iglesias (Vottorio Besso, 1887)
L’article “Metals and metalloids in hair samples of children living near the abandoned mine sites of Sulcis-Inglesiente (Sardinia, Italy)” par Varrica, D., Tamburo, E., Milia, N., Vallascas, E., Cortimiglia, V., De Giudici, G., Dongarrà, G., Sanna, E., Monna, F. and Losno, R. vient d’être publié par Environmental Research, 34, 366–374.
Daniela Varrica, Université de Palerme (daniela.varrica@unipa.it) et son équipe ont étudié l’impact sur les populations locales des nombreuses mines de Pb, Zn, Ag, Ba, etc. exploitées dans le sud de la Sardaigne depuis l’Antiquité. Les concentrations en 21 éléments chimiques ont été mesurées dans les cheveux de 144 enfants âgés de 11 à 13 ans, qui vivaient dans la région minéralisée de Iglesias, et sur l’île de Sant’Antioco où aucune exploitation minière n’a pris place. Des différences nettes concernant un grand nombre de polluants : Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, U, V, et Zn ont été observées; les habitants d’Iglesias et des alentours étant, comme on pouvait s’y attendre, les plus exposés. Les métaux et métalloides issus des déchets miniers et des sols pollués sont inhalés sous forme de poussières, mais ils peuvent également intégrer les organismes par contact ou via la consommation d’eau et de nourriture notablement enrichies. De telles zones ne sont pas rares. Elles doivent faire l’objet d’une surveillance accrue afin d’évaluer précisément le risque qu’elles représentent en termes de santé publique.
Abstract : The Sulcis-Iglesiente district (SW Sardinia, Italy) is one of the oldest and most important polymetallic mining areas in Italy. Large outcrops of sulfide and oxide ores, as well as the products of the long-lasting mining activity, are present throughout the district releasing significant quantities of metals and metalloids into the surrounding environment. Here are reported concentrations of 21 elements determined in scalp hair samples from children (aged 11–13 years) living in different geochemical environments of southwestern Sardinia: Iglesias, hosting several abandoned mines, and the island of Sant’Antioco, not affected by significant base metal mineralization events. Trace element determinations were performed by ICP-MS. Statistically significant differences (p<0.01) in elemental concentration levels between the two study sites were found. Hair of children from Iglesias exhibited higher concentration values for Ag, Ba, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, U, V, and Zn. Rubidium, V and U resulted more abundant at Sant’Antioco. Hair samples from Iglesias showed gender-related differences for a larger number of elements (Ag, Ba, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Sr, U and Zn) than at Sant’Antioco, where only U was significantly different. The above elemental concentrations in females were always higher than in male donors. Robust Principal Component Analysis operated on log-transformed elemental concentrations showed components indicative of a) sulfides ore minerals (PC1) reflecting the influence of the diffuse mineralization covering the entire study area, b) the presence of some bioavailable As sources (PC2) as As-rich pyrite and Fe-containing sphalerite and c) other sources of metals overlapping the diffuse mineralizations, as carbonate rocks and coal deposits (PC3). The results provided evidence of a potential risk of adverse effects on the health of the exposed population, with children living at Iglesias being greatly exposed to several metals and metalloids originated in mining tailings, enriched soils, waters and food.