EVALUATION OF CHILDREN EXPOSITION AND EFFECT BIOMARKERS IN A MINING SITE WITH HIGH CONCENTRATION OF ARSENIC AND LEAD BIOACCESIBILITY AS A CASE STUDY FOR ABANDONED SITES ASSOCIATED TO PB-ZN-CU-AG SKARN DEPOSITS IN CENTRAL MEXICO

Metallic mining activities in North and Central Mexico have been historically characterized by the mining and mineral processing of skarn deposits with high concentrations of value elements (Au, Ag, Pb, Zn and Cu), but also of toxic potentially elements as arsenic and cadmium. To these historical mining activities have been associated abandoned residues deposed near of human population developments as in Villa de la Paz, Cerro San Pedro, and Zimapan, where health risks have been pointed in as consequence of the exposition to the abandoned residues and polluted soils with high concentration of lead and arsenic. Detailed geochemical and Health Assessment studies were carried in Villa de la Paz as a model of case study that could be applied in other historical mining sites of Central Mexico.Geochemical base line and environmental impact studies were carried out in surface soil of Villa de la Paz where historical and recent activities have been developed at less during the last 200 years. Geochemical soil characterization included for both arsenic and lead (1) the determination of bioaccesible concentration by the SBRC method, (2) environmental health studies via exposition biomarkers, and (3) effect biomarkers in children population. Geochemical soil studies demonstrated that arsenic and lead base line concentrations are even higher than maximum permissible values established by Mexican Environmental and Health Regulation for polluted soils. These impact concentrations for both toxic elements are always associated to the natural mineralization and to the historical abandoned residues near of population's developments in Villa de la Paz, but also have demonstrated for two other mining sites with similar mineral ore characteristics. Exposition and effect biomarkerxs analyses demonstrated that children populations showed concentrations higher than maximum national and international criteria for children health risk prevention. The results are discussed in order to propose and use prevention and remediation solutions in collaboration with government authorities and the local community.