Environmental impacts associated with mining can be important even after cessation of ore extraction, particularly where sites are abandoned and unremediated. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a common concern in such legacy mines where sulfide ores were extracted. AMD can introduce large concentrations of heavy metals to aquatic systems and contaminate the environment for many kilometres downstream of old mines. Understanding the pattern and history of contamination from legacy mines can help environmental managers make better management decisions. Meta-analysis is a statistical tool that can help determine the significance of changes in metal contamination over the years since cessation of mining. Here we use meta-analysis to examine metal contamination at and downstream of Sunny Corner silver (Ag)-lead (Pb)-zinc (Zn) mine in eastern Australia. Copper (Cu), Zn and Pb concentrations in water increased from 1978 to 2018 within 2 km downstream of the main mine adit, whereas for stream sediment, only Zn concentrations increased significantly over the same period. In contrast, Pb concentrations in surface soil decreased over the years from 2000 to 2018.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115742 | DOI Listing |
Lancet
June 2024
MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address:
Lancet
June 2024
MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, University College London, London, UK. Electronic address:
Chemosphere
January 2022
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, 2109, Australia.
Characterizing the distribution of biota in response to contaminants is a critical element of site risk assessments. In this study we investigated the spatial distributions of biota and soil chemistry data in surface soil from Sunny Corner, a legacy base metal sulfide mine, Australia. Our results showed that copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As) and lead (Pb) in the surface soil exceeded Australian national soil quality guidelines and posed risks to the environment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Pregnancy Childbirth
March 2021
Centre for Maternal, Adolescent, Reproductive & Child Health (MARCH), London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
Background: Kangaroo mother care (KMC) reduces mortality among stable neonates ≤2000 g. Lack of data tracking coverage and quality of KMC in both surveys and routine information systems impedes scale-up. This paper evaluates KMC measurement as part of the Every Newborn Birth Indicators Research Tracking in Hospitals (EN-BIRTH) study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Pollut
October 2020
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Environmental impacts associated with mining can be important even after cessation of ore extraction, particularly where sites are abandoned and unremediated. Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) is a common concern in such legacy mines where sulfide ores were extracted. AMD can introduce large concentrations of heavy metals to aquatic systems and contaminate the environment for many kilometres downstream of old mines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!