Extractive waste management: A risk analysis approach

Neha Mehta, Giovanna Antonella Dino, Franco Ajmone-Marsan, Manuela Lasagna, Chiara Rome

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Abandoned mine sites continue to present serious environmental hazards because the heavy metals associated with extractive waste are continuously released into the environment, where they threaten human life and the environment. Remediating and securing extractive waste are complex, lengthy and costly processes. Thus, in most European countries, a site is considered for intervention when it poses a risk to human health and the surrounding environment. As a consequence, risk analysis presents a viable decisional approach towards the management of extractive waste.

To evaluate the effects posed by extractive waste to human health and groundwater, a risk analysis approach was used for an abandoned nickel extraction site in Campello Monti in North Italy. This site is located in the Southern Italian Alps. The area consists of large and voluminous mafic rocks intruded by mantle peridotite. The mining activities in this area have generated extractive waste.

A risk analysis of the site was performed using Risk Based Corrective Action (RBCA) guidelines, considering the properties of extractive waste and water for the properties of environmental matrices. The results showed the presence of carcinogenic risk due to arsenic and risks to groundwater due to nickel. The results of the risk analysis form a basic understanding of the current situation at the site, which is affected by extractive waste.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)900-912
Number of pages12
JournalScience of the Total Environment
Volume622-623
Early online date13 Dec 2017
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 May 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • risk analysis
  • Mining waste
  • Environmental impacts
  • Extractive waste
  • Abandoned mine
  • Reuse

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