Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Living Organisms, Soil, and Health Risk Assessment: A Systematic Review of Mining Sites in the Philippines

Abstract

Despite the known presence of heavy metals around mining sites, a critical gap exists in understanding how these metals accumulate in living organisms and soil. This lack of knowledge hinders effective management and poses potential health risks to surrounding ecosystems, including humans. This review included articles published between 2014 and 2024 that focused on bioaccumulation of heavy metals in living organisms, soil contamination at mining sites, and health risks associated with mining exposure. Articles were selected based on originality, full-text availability, and English language. Excluded were case studies, reviews without data, or articles lacking full text or English translation. All relevant studies were systematically selected from Google Scholar, ResearchGate, Elsevier, Springer, and Academia.edu to identify relevant research exploring the impacts of mining activities on local biota. The review identified a total of 25 studies. We were able to use 15 of these studies for a more in-depth quantitative analysis. The qualitative analysis of all 10 studies revealed that Arsenic, Copper, Nickel, Mercury, Chromium, Lead, and Zinc are the most frequently observed heavy metals impacting humans near mining sites. Among the identified heavy metals, Mercury and Arsenic stand out as posing the greatest health risk such as skin allergies, respiratory problems and various types of cancer. Their high toxicity and ability to bioaccumulate in the food chain are particularly concerning. Bioaccumulation means these metals become more concentrated at each level of the food web, posing a significant threat to top predators like humans. Specific species demonstrate significant metal accumulation, underscoring the toxicological risks associated with heavy metal bioaccumulation and the need for environmental intervention and monitoring to protect both organisms and ecosystems. Through this systematic review, the researchers aim to shed light on bioaccumulation patterns of heavy metals around mining sites. These findings will be crucial for developing better strategies to mitigate environmental impacts and protect the health of surrounding ecosystems.