72
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in human populations exposed to mining contamination –Panasqueira Mine
(Portugal)
aCoelho P, aCosta S, aSilva S, aCosta C, bRanville J, bPastorinho M R, cHarrington C, cTaylor A, dCandeias C,
dFerreira da Silva E, dSalgueiro A R, aTeixeira J
Mining activities cause several health impacts in miners and communities living near the mine site that
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and soils. Existing studies point to several adverse
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to its past and current activity, giving rise to large tailings piles and mud dams. Also, the existence of small
villages around the mine site, namely S. Francisco
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9th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry
Lisbon. From the results achieved from a geochemical sampling campaign undertaken in the vicinity of
Aldeia de S. Francisco de Assis, an anomalous disWULEXWLRQ RI PHWDOV DQG DUVHQLF LQ VRLOV ZDV LGHQWLÀHG %DVHG RQ HSLGHPLRORJLF GDWD VRPH RI WKHVH
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namely arsenic and cadmium. The International
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to evaluate environmental and occupational exposure to these substances.
To evaluate the effects on human health caused by
the conditions surrounding the mine site, groups of
individuals from nearby villages environmentally and
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studied and data obtained from the three groups
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A greater understanding of the effects on human health caused by environmental exposure to
PHWDOORLGVDULVLQJIURPDPXOWLVWDJHDSSURDFKLQWHJUDWLQJGLIIHUHQWELRPDUNHUVZLOODOORZWKHGHYHOopment of preventive measures, leading to a reduction in cancer risks.
Acknowledgements
7KLV ZRUN ZDV VXSSRUWHG E\ WKH 3RUWXJXHVH )RXQdation for Science and Technology [grant number
6)5+%' DQG SURMHFW QXPEHU 37'&
6$8(6$@
a Portuguese National Institute of Health, Environmental Health Department, Porto, Portugal ([email protected])
b Colorado School of Mines, Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Golden, USA
c University of Surrey, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Trace Element Lab, Guildford, UK
d University of Aveiro, Department of Geosciences, GeoBioTec Research Center, Aveiro, Portugal
9th International Symposium on Environmental Geochemistry