Toxic metals?!

[dpegg]

I recently hered from a lecture I went to that charterhouse has high levels of metal contaminants which stay in the soil. but are part of the reason why the flora is so unusual in the area. It was also stated that when a path threw the area was built through the area the people building it had to use hazchem suits to protect themselves from the soils. In a question and answer session after I asked if there was any risk to cavers in the environment and the reply said no due to the alkalinity of the groundwater. It was only after that I thought about the fact we often get covered in mud. Which will have come from the surface. Does anybody have any (informed) information this issue?

 

[graham]

After caving in the caves closest to the mine workings, I would most certainly wash my kit thoroughly and take care not to ingest or inhale dust from dried mud on it.

 

[gus horsley]

I'd agree with Graham.  Caves close to mine workings on Mendip can potentially contain mud with lead and other heavy metals in them.  In other caving areas there's also a risk of copper, cadmium, etc contamination.  Best to be on the safe side.

 

[Roger W]

Hmm...  What have we got in the Derbyshire cave mud, then?

 

[Brains]

Wholesome nutrients and essential minerals and vitamins of course, oh and its good for the complexion as well I am told...

 

[robjones]

The most likely pollutants are: in likely order of concentration: lead, zinc, iron, silver, cadmium; accompanied by elevated acidity (not alkalinity). The metals are likely to be mainly as sulphides, with those in dusts and mud especially likely to be decomposed to secondary minerals - mainly oxides, hydroxides, carbonates, all of which are more likely to be absorbed by the body - by inhaling dusts, by swallowing dusts, and to a (much lesser?) degree, by absorbtion through the skin.

This is precisely what mine explorers are exposed to. Of course they mostly have bushy beards to filter the dust, and drink copious volumes of beer to flush their systems clean. 

Agree that washing your oversuit and muddy gear to avoid a lot of dry metal-contaminated dust getting all over your tackle store and into your lungs / stomach is a sensible action following mining trips or trips into caves that intersect mines. No need for paranoia however - if you live in an urban environment and spend a fair time in traffic you'll ingest a good deal of pollutants - and few people seem to worry unduly or change the detail of their lifestyles... 

 

[sluka]

The poisonousness is always the question of amount of such poisonous substance. There is a no null concentration of arsenic or lead in soil below our foots but if one will eat 100 g of kitchen salt he may have very serious problems or may dead too. If you will go one or let's say 10 times to cave/mine where is lead mineralization nothing happen. If you will work there several years it could be serious problem.

 

[gus horsley]

Good advice.  Make note to self: don't eat any salt and vinegar crisps next time I'm underground in a lead mine.