Metal(loid) mobility, solid-phase speciation and in vitro bioaccessibility in European hard-rock lithium (Li) deposits
Year of publication
2025
Authors
Bollaert, Quentin; Vassilieva, Elvira; Lavikko, Sonja; Araujo, Fernando Prado; Dehaine, Quentin; Cappuyns, Valérie
Abstract
The European Union (EU) lags in lithium (Li) production despite having substantial resources in pegmatites and rare-metal granites. To address this, the European Commission has encouraged Li mining in Europe. However, there is limited information about the potential environmental and human-health impacts associated with Li mining from these lithologies. In this study, we assess the mobility, solid-phase speciation, and in vitro bioaccessibility of metal(loid)s by combining a series of leaching tests with mineralogical analyses on Li-rich ore and process samples. Despite relatively high concentrations of metal(loid)s such as As, Cr, Ni, and Zn, laboratory leaching tests simulating weathering under environmental conditions reveal generally low mobility for most metal(loid)s, much lower than the reference thresholds. Lithium, for which no threshold values are currently available, exhibits higher mobility (up to ca. 62 mg/kg in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure) due to the greater alterability of Li minerals. Spatially-resolved mineralogical analyses and pH-dependent leaching tests reveal that metal(loid)s are primarily hosted in sulfides (arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite) and chromite. Detailed in situ mineralogical investigations using LA-ICP-MS demonstrate the presence of metal(loid)s as traces in common silicates (biotite, muscovite) and fluorapatite, underscoring the complexity of metal(loid) solid-phase speciation in these materials. The in vitro oral bioaccessibility of the metal(loid)s is low to moderate (< 35 %). Inverse geochemical modeling indicates that the mobility of metal(loid)s primarily results from the dissolution of silicates and phosphates containing low amounts of metal(loid)s at low pH (0.5–2). The metal(loid) in vitro gastric bioaccessibility also stems from the dissolution of these minerals with low metal(loid) contents. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk assessments corrected for in vitro bioaccessibility indicate low health risks. However, given the limited knowledge on Li (eco)toxicity, implementing the best practices for tailing managements is warranted to limit human and environmental exposure.
Show moreOrganizations and authors
Publication type
Publication format
Article
Parent publication type
Journal
Article type
Original article
Audience
ScientificPeer-reviewed
Peer-ReviewedMINEDU's publication type classification code
A1 Journal article (refereed), original researchPublication channel information
Journal
Publisher
Volume
970
Article number
178992
ISSN
Publication forum
Publication forum level
2
Open access
Open access in the publisher’s service
Yes
Open access of publication channel
Partially open publication channel
License of the publisher’s version
CC BY NC ND
Self-archived
Yes
Other information
Fields of science
Geosciences
Keywords
[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object],[object Object]
Publication country
Netherlands
Internationality of the publisher
International
Language
English
International co-publication
Yes
Co-publication with a company
No
DOI
10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.178992
The publication is included in the Ministry of Education and Culture’s Publication data collection
Yes