Abstract
High Arsenic concentrations (up to 200 mg kg−1) are found in macadam products from Dannemora Iron Mine in central Sweden. Monitoring the As, Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations in different macadam products shows that the highest amounts of the metals investigated appear in the fine fractions, 0–2 mm. Because of these relatively high concentrations, the Department of Environment has stopped all distribution of macadam products with a fraction less than 2 mm. However, the leaching tests show a very low concentration of weathering products which indicates a very low weathering rate for the material. Both the surface water and the ground water analyses also show low concentrations (<30μg L−1) in all the samples.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Berrow, M.L. and Reaves, G.A. 1984. In:Proc. International Symposium on Environmental Contamination, p.333. London.
Fowler, B.A., Vahler, M., Pershagen, G. and Squibb, K.S. 1983. In: Fowler, B.A. (ed.),Biological and Environmental Effects of Arsenic, Chaps 4–7. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
Hingston, F., Posner, A.M. and Quick, J.P., 1974. Anion adsorption by goethite and gibbsite: II. Desorption of anions from hydrous oxide surface.J. Soil Science,25, 16–25.
Matthess, G. 1974. Heavy metals as trace constituents in natural and polluted groundwaters.Geol. Minjbouw,53, 149–155.
Ressar, H., Ekelund, L. and Ohlsson, S-Å., 1990: Biogeokemiska kartan. Tungmetaller i bckvattenvxter. Sveriges Geologiska Underskning. Rapport och Meddelande. Nr 60. Uppsala (In Swedish).
Vanter, M. 1983.Metabolism of Inorganic Arsenic in Relation to Chemical Form and Animal Species. Department of Toxicology and Environmental Hygiene, Karolinska Institute and National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Stockholm.
Xu, H., Allard, B. and Grimvall, A. 1988. Influence of pH and organic substance on the adsorption of As(V) on geological materials.Water Air Soil Pollution,40, 293–305.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Qvarfort, U. The high occurrence of arsenic in macadam products from an iron mine in central Sweden: Significance for environmental contamination. Environ Geochem Health 14, 87–90 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01784019
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01784019