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Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Standard Standard

Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. / Macklin, M.G.; Thomas, Christopher; Mudbhatkal, Amogh et al.
In: Science, Vol. 381, No. 6664, 22.09.2023, p. 1345-1350.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

HarvardHarvard

Macklin, MG, Thomas, C, Mudbhatkal, A, Brewer, PA, Hudson-Edwards, K, Lewin, J, Scussolini, P, D. Eilander, D, Lechner, A, Owen, J, Bird, G, Kemp, D & Mangalaa, K 2023, 'Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment', Science, vol. 381, no. 6664, pp. 1345-1350. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg670

APA

Macklin, M. G., Thomas, C., Mudbhatkal, A., Brewer, P. A., Hudson-Edwards, K., Lewin, J., Scussolini, P., D. Eilander, D., Lechner, A., Owen, J., Bird, G., Kemp, D., & Mangalaa, K. (2023). Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. Science, 381(6664), 1345-1350. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg670

CBE

Macklin MG, Thomas C, Mudbhatkal A, Brewer PA, Hudson-Edwards K, Lewin J, Scussolini P, D. Eilander D, Lechner A, Owen J, et al. 2023. Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. Science. 381(6664):1345-1350. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg670

MLA

Macklin, M.G. et al. "Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment". Science. 2023, 381(6664). 1345-1350. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg670

VancouverVancouver

Macklin MG, Thomas C, Mudbhatkal A, Brewer PA, Hudson-Edwards K, Lewin J et al. Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. Science. 2023 Sept 22;381(6664):1345-1350. doi: 10.1126/science.adg670

Author

Macklin, M.G. ; Thomas, Christopher ; Mudbhatkal, Amogh et al. / Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment. In: Science. 2023 ; Vol. 381, No. 6664. pp. 1345-1350.

RIS

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

AU - Macklin, M.G.

AU - Thomas, Christopher

AU - Mudbhatkal, Amogh

AU - Brewer, P.A.

AU - Hudson-Edwards, Karen

AU - Lewin, John

AU - Scussolini, Paul

AU - D. Eilander, Dirk

AU - Lechner, Alex

AU - Owen, John

AU - Bird, Graham

AU - Kemp, Deanna

AU - Mangalaa, K

PY - 2023/9/22

Y1 - 2023/9/22

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

U2 - 10.1126/science.adg670

DO - 10.1126/science.adg670

M3 - Article

VL - 381

SP - 1345

EP - 1350

JO - Science

JF - Science

SN - 0036-8075

IS - 6664

ER -