Trace metals from historical mining sites and past metallurgical activity remain bioavailable to wildlife today

Historical mining and metallurgical activity in France's UNESCO-listed Causses and Cévennes region continue to impact wildlife, with trace metals like cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc remaining bioavailable to free-ranging mammals such as wood mice. Researchers found that soil metal concentrations near ancient mining sites were one or two orders of magnitude higher than typical European levels, and these elevated levels correlated with increased kidney lead (and, to a lesser extent, cadmium) in the animals. Unlike copper and zinc, which did not show strong correlations, lead's persistence suggests long-term environmental effects on wildlife health, as evidenced by a negative relationship between kidney lead concentration and body condition. This study highlights the lingering ecological risks posed by historical mining, offering insights into the long-term fate of trace metals and their potential threats to both ecosystems and human health.

Camizuli, E., Scheifler, R., Garnier, S., Monna, F., Losno, R., Gourault, C., Hamm, G., Lachiche, C., Delivet, G., Chateau, C., & Alibert, P. (2018). Trace metals from historical mining sites and past metallurgical activity remain bioavailable to wildlife today. Scientific Reports, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-20983-0