Natural Attenuation of Arsenic in Natural Wetlands at Thung Kham Gold Mine Wang Saphung District, Loei Province
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Abstract
The gold mining operations in Khao Luang Sub-district, Wang Saphung District, Loei Province, have had a significant impact on the surrounding environment, leading to arsenic contamination. The objective of this research was to examine the extent of arsenic contamination in the natural wetland area and Pu Leuk Creek, adjacent to the Thung Kam gold mine. The study focused on sediments samples taken from three points along the creek: upstream, middle, and downstream, at depths ranging from 0 to 150 cm. The findings revealed that concentrations of total arsenic in the sediment at the upstream, middle, and downstream points ranged from 160.1-1,112 mg/kg, 49.79-1,911 mg/kg, and 0.39-1,080 mg/kg, respectively. For As(III), the concentrations ranged from 28.63-320.40 mg/kg, 0-1,032 mg/kg, and 0-544.60 mg/kg, respectively. For As(V), the concentrations ranged from 115.49–853.70 mg/kg, 8.5-879 mg/kg, and 0–586.5 mg/kg, respectively. Most of these values exceed the standard threshold for soil quality for agricultural use (25.00 mg/kg) set by the National Environmental Board in 2021. The highest concentrations of arsenic were found at the middle point of the creek, possibly due to its proximity to the mineral waste pond in the gold mining area. Additionally, the highest concentrations of arsenic were found at depths of 0–40 cm, indicating that depth levels affect the accumulation of arsenic in the sediment. The analysis of the elemental composition in the sediment using the Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technique revealed that the chemical constituents in the sediment include Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Rb, Zr, and Pb. The predominant mineralogical components in the sediment are quartz (SiO₂) and hematite (Fe₂O₃). Regarding the analysis of the forms of arsenic in the sediment, it was observed that the concentration of As(V) was higher than that of As(III). This suggests that As(V) may have been absorbed or precipitated along with other mineral elements in the sediments. The presence of arsenic exceeding the standard limits in this area, as mentioned above, may have adverse health effects on the people residing near the gold mining area.
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