Health and environmental risk due to acid mine drainage generating tailings in Zimapán, Mexico

Abstract In the mining district of Zimapán, located in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico, high concentrations of potentially toxic elements such as arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) have been detected in tailing’s dams. This AMD, along with the population growth in the region, has reduced the distance between mining waste sites and urban areas, increasing the risk of exposure to these contaminants for living organisms. The objective of this study was to evaluate AMD generation and the risk to human health and the ecosystem due to potential exposure to elements present in the AMD, using the Spatial Analysis and Decision Assistance (SADA) software in three mining areas of Zimapán. Soil sample analyses revealed that the total concentrations of Pb, Cd, and As exceeded the maximum limits allowed by Mexican standard NOM-141-SEMARNAT-2003 for residential and agricultural land use. Additionally, the SADA model results demonstrated a potential risk to human health and mammals and birds due to their interaction with concentrations of 12,198 mg/kg of As and 4,618 mg/kg of Pb, respectively. The SADA model played a crucial role in enabling the quantification of the potential risk to the exposed population, thereby becoming an essential tool for the environmental management of this and other mining districts.