Tackling arsenic and mercury contamination: implications for sustainable mining and occupational health risks
This study investigates the environmental and occupational health risks associated with arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) contamination in a specific industrial site: a mercury mine site that contains a metallurgical plant within its premises. Utilising a comprehensive sampling and analysis approach, As...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de recurso: | artículo |
| Fecha de publicación: | 2024 |
| País: | España |
| Institución: | Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) |
| Repositorio: | UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC |
| Idioma: | inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/415172 |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/2117/415172 https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su16104027 |
| Access Level: | acceso abierto |
| Palabra clave: | Mineral industries -- Environmental aspects Mine safety Environmental toxicology Mercury mines and mining Arsenic -- Toxicology Mercury -- Toxicology Sustainability Arsenic contamination Mercury exposure Occupational safety Environmental pollution Risk assessment Sustainable mining Indústria minera -- Aspectes ambientals Mines -- Mesures de seguretat Toxicologia ambiental Mines de mercuri Arsènic -- Toxicologia Mercuri -- Toxicologia Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Enginyeria civil::Enginyeria de mines Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Seguretat industrial |
| Sumario: | This study investigates the environmental and occupational health risks associated with arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) contamination in a specific industrial site: a mercury mine site that contains a metallurgical plant within its premises. Utilising a comprehensive sampling and analysis approach, As and Hg concentrations in the soil and air across various zones within the site were assessed. The results revealed elevated levels of both contaminants, particularly in areas proximal to industrial processes such as metal smelting and waste disposal. Risk assessment using the Cancer Risk (CR) and Hazard Index (HI) indices demonstrated significant health hazards that exceed regulatory thresholds, indicating potential carcinogenic effects from As exposure and risks of non-cancerous occupational diseases. Three distinct risk areas were identified based on the CR and HI indices, guiding the formulation of tailored risk management strategies. While some zones may permit limited industrial activities under specific conditions, others require stringent safety measures and specialised personal protective equipment (PPE) due to exceptionally high contaminant concentrations. Overall, the findings underscore the critical need for robust safety protocols and regulatory compliance to mitigate the health risks associated with As and Hg exposure in industrial settings, ensuring the protection of worker health, environmental stewardship, and the promotion of sustainable mining practices. |
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