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Inadequate management of mining tailings represents a major environmental challenge in Latin America, particularly in mining districts where these deposits are often located near communities and water bodies, increasing the risk of environmental contamination. This study assesses the polluting potential of a community tailings dam located in the Zaruma–Portovelo mining district, one of the country’s most important gold-mining areas. Ten tailings samples were collected and subjected to physicochemical and miner...

Mining activities can significantly affect water resources by altering their chemical composition and promoting the mobilization of contaminants in aquatic systems. In this context, this study analyzed the hydrochemical and isotopic characteristics of hydric resources in a mining-impacted region of southern Ecuador in order to identify the main processes controlling water chemistry, determine the origin, and identify potential sources of contamination. Eighteen water samples were collected (10 surface water and 8 ...

Mining activities can influence agricultural environments by altering potentially toxic elements (PTEs) concentrations in different environmental compartments, promoting their accumulation and generating potential exposure pathways. This study analyzed PTEs in agricultural soil and irrigation water in the Santa Rosa mining district, Ecuador. Fourteen soil samples were collected from agricultural farms, and ten water samples were obtained from a nearby canal used for crop irrigation. PTEs levels were measured by XR...