Environmental Impact of Mining: Soil and Water Contamination

Dear Colleagues,

The mining sector and associated smelting and metal processing industries contribute significantly to economic growth and development in many countries worldwide. However, despite their contributions to income generation, employment, economic growth, and development, mining and related activities equally contribute to disrupting the cycling of metals in the surface environment, leading to major pollution problems. Mining minerals produces significant quantities of waste materials enriched with toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, As, etc.) and radioactive waste, greatly impacting on the surrounding environment. For instance, large amounts of toxic waste enriched with mine tailing and open-air impoundments can lead to the formation of acid mine drainage that consequently contaminate the environment, particularly the water and soil. Not only operational but even abandoned mines can pose a severe threat to the environment, raising severe consequences after their cessation of activities. The introduction, leaching, transport, and accumulation of potentially toxic elements can change their local geochemical background values, disrupting the natural balance and functioning of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Such local contaminations can lead to the deterioration of surface and groundwater, soil and their functions, causing adverse effects on agriculture and food production. This severity can be further enhanced with potential of bioaccumulation and biomagnification along the tropic chains, which can give rise to serious health issues, even on a regional scale. As such, mining and smelting activities with a lack of required precautions can be identified as a long-lasting hazard with the potential to cause environmental pollution repeatedly. 

This Special Issue aims to collate the latest research on the extension of soil and water contamination due to mining activities to enhance our understanding of the dynamics inherent to leaching, transport, and accumulation of some potential toxic elements and the environmental relevance of these phenomena. Our objective is to identify the existing and emerging risks pertinent to soil and water contamination due to mining and to assess the present and future potential risks in local and regional level. Further, we plan to examine the case studies in and new solutions for environmental restoration and remediation. Articles may cover, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Soil and water contamination in mining sites
• Current and/or emerging health issues/ biological hazards of mine waste contamination
• Possible remedial measures to treat contaminated sites

We welcome original research, reviews, case studies, and short communications and look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Saranga Diyabalanage
Prof. Dr. Rohana Chandrajith
Dr. Asitha Cooray
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• impact of mining
• smelting of metal ores
• environmental quality
• metal input into soil
• smelter contamination
• acid mine drainage
• risk assessment and food chain contamination