Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Electronic versions

Documents

DOI

  • M.G. Macklin
    University of Lincoln
  • Christopher Thomas
    University of Lincoln
  • Amogh Mudbhatkal
    University of Lincoln
  • P.A. Brewer
    Aberystwyth University
  • Karen Hudson-Edwards
    University of Exeter
  • John Lewin
    Aberystwyth University
  • Paul Scussolini
    Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  • Dirk D. Eilander
    Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
  • Alex Lechner
    Monash university, Jakarta
  • John Owen
    University of the Free State
  • Graham Bird
  • Deanna Kemp
    University of Queensland
  • K Mangalaa
    Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India
An estimated 23 million people live on floodplains affected by potentially dangerous concentrations of toxic waste derived from past and present metal mining activity. We analyzed the global dimensions of this hazard, particularly in regard to lead, zinc, copper, and arsenic, using a georeferenced global database detailing all known metal mining sites and intact and failed tailings storage facilities. We then used process-based and empirically tested modeling to produce a global assessment of metal mining contamination in river systems and the numbers of human populations and livestock exposed. Worldwide, metal mines affect 479,200 kilometers of river channels and 164,000 square kilometers of floodplains. The number of people exposed to contamination sourced from long-term discharge of mining waste into rivers is almost 50 times greater than the number directly affected by tailings dam failures.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1345-1350
JournalScience
Volume381
Issue number6664
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 22 Sept 2023

Total downloads

No data available
View graph of relations