Environmental Hazards Associated With Mining Activities in the Vicinity of Bolivian Poopó Lake

Abstract

Hydrographically Bolivian Poopo Lake is located in the basin of Desaguadero River and it has over a dozen main tributary rivers and other smaller rivers with lower flow. The mine water discharge from the abandoned and current mining activities polluted these rivers by carrying heavy metals, dissolved and suspended solids which in turn polluted the Poopo Lake which is considered as an important Lake in this area. The present paper deals with the environmental hazards associated with the mining activities with an objective of determining the environmental quality of the Poopo Lake and its tributary rivers, based on physical-chemical analysis of superficial water and sediment samples. The results of the research show that the Poopo Lake water quality can be classified as highly saline, containing high concentration of dissolved or suspended solid, as well arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc and other heavy metals exceeding the permissible limits of pollutants. Desaguadero River contributed to the Poopo Lake pollution by 70% arsenic, 64% lead, 4.27% zinc and 2.18% cadmium. Other important pollution contributors are Antequera River by 57 % zinc, 32.9 % cadmium and 0.66% lead, and Huanuni River by 61.2% cadmium, 2.23% lead and 34.3% zinc. Vinto foundry, Kori kollo mine and mainly San Jose mine polluted the Poopo Lake by arsenic and lead through Desaguadero River. Bolivar and Huanuni mines polluted the Poopo Lake by cadmium and zinc through Antequera and Huanuni Rivers. Additionally the mining activities continue to pollute the Poopo Lake by dissolved and suspended solids transporting through Desaguadero, Antequera and Huanuni rivers.