Arsenic, thallium and mercury speciation in dust from abandoned gold mine tailings in Nova Scotia
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We have determined that relatively high concentrations of arsenic and mercury are found in abandoned gold mine tailings in Nova Scotia. Some of these sites used for recreational activities (riding dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles), raising dust that may be ingested or inhaled by participants, including children. Our project is focused on the collection and analysis of airborne particulates and near-surface samples, and the use of advanced microanalytical techniques to determine the chemical form or mineralogical host of the arsenic. We hypothesize that the arsenic mineralogy is related to the bioaccessibility, or the amount of arsenic soluble in the human gastrointestinal system. This is being tested in collaboration with other MITHE-RN colleagues.