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Ecology

Data from University of Huelva Provide New Insights into Environmental Research

2012 JUL 20 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- New research on Environmental Research is the subject of a report. According to news reporting from Huelva, Spain, by VerticalNews journalists, researchers stated "In 1998, the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers underwent an enormous environmental disaster caused by the rupture of the Aznalcollar tailings dam and the release of 6 hm(3) of pyrite sludge and acidic water. Both rivers run over recent alluvial materials which form a small-sized aquifer which is however important because underground water feeds the flow of the rivers."

The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research by the authors from the University of Huelva, "This work analyzes the state of groundwater 10 years after the spill. Before the dam failure, this aquifer was already contaminated in the zone nearest to the mine, to which the impact of the spill was added. Contamination levels in the alluvial aquifer of the Agrio River have decreased remarkably. However, they are still important, with acidic pH values and high concentrations of toxic elements (maximum values of 16 mg/L of Zn and 15 mg/L of Al). There are also important levels of contamination in the Guadiamar alluvial area closest to the mine, as well as in specific zones located further south. The concentration of toxic elements is mainly controlled by pH. The evolution of contaminant levels show a sharp decrease after the first years following the spill, followed by a subsequent stabilization."

According to the news reporters, the researchers concluded: "It is necessary to take measures for the recovery of the aquifer because, otherwise, groundwater will continue contributing contaminants into the Agrio and Guadiamar rivers."

For more information on this research see: Groundwater contamination evolution in the Guadiamar and Agrio aquifers after the Aznalcollar spill: assessment and environmental implications. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2012;184(6):3629-41. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. (Springer - www.springer.com; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - www.springerlink.com/content/0167-6369/)

Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting M. Olias, Dept. of Geodynamic and Palaeontology, University of Huelva, Campus 'El Carmen' s, n, 21071 Huelva, Spain.

Publisher contact information for the journal Environmental Monitoring and Assessment is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.

Keywords for this news article include: Spain, Huelva, Europe, Environmental Research.