Extractive waste management: A risk analysis approach

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 622-623; pp. 900 - 912
• Main Authors: Mehta, Neha, Dino, Giovanna Antonella, Ajmone-Marsan, Franco, Lasagna, Manuela, Romè, Chiara, De Luca, Domenico Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.05.2018
• Subjects: Abandoned mine; Environmental impacts; Extractive waste; Mining waste; Reuse; Risk analysis; Environmental impacts; Extractive waste; Risk analysis; Abandoned mine; Reuse; Mining waste
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.260

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. [Display omitted] •Extractive waste in abandoned mines pose risk to human health and groundwater.•Risk analysis under current situation and assuming transport to nearest plain•Comparative risk analysis considering no change in properties of waste•There was unacceptable risk due to extractive waste in both situations.•Future use of waste should consider mitigation activities for reducing risk.