Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

M. G. Macklin; C. J. Thomas; A. Mudbhatkal; P. A. Brewer; K. A. Hudson-Edwards; J. Lewin; P. Scussolini; D. Eilander; A. Lechner; J. Owen; G. Bird; Deanna Kemp; K. R. Mangalaa

doi:10.1126/science.adg6704

Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

M. G. Macklin, C. J. Thomas, A. Mudbhatkal, P. A. Brewer, K. A. Hudson-Edwards, J. Lewin, P. Scussolini, D. Eilander, A. Lechner, J. Owen, G. Bird, Deanna Kemp, K. R. Mangalaa

Urban Design Indonesia

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

58 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

An estimated 23 million people live on floodplains affected by potentially dangerous concentrations o 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 language	English
Pages (from-to)	1345-1350
Number of pages	6
Journal	Science
Volume	381
Issue number	6664
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adg6704
Publication status	Published - 22 Sept 2023

Keywords

Mining
Rivers
Contamination
Pollution

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1126/science.adg6704

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title = "Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment",

abstract = "An estimated 23 million people live on floodplains affected by potentially dangerous concentrations o 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.",

keywords = "Mining, Rivers, Contamination, Pollution",

author = "Macklin, {M. G.} and Thomas, {C. J.} and A. Mudbhatkal and Brewer, {P. A.} and Hudson-Edwards, {K. A.} and J. Lewin and P. Scussolini and D. Eilander and A. Lechner and J. Owen and G. Bird and Deanna Kemp and Mangalaa, {K. R.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.",

year = "2023",

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doi = "10.1126/science.adg6704",

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TY - JOUR

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T2 - a global assessment

AU - Macklin, M. G.

AU - Thomas, C. J.

AU - Mudbhatkal, A.

AU - Brewer, P. A.

AU - Hudson-Edwards, K. A.

AU - Lewin, J.

AU - Scussolini, P.

AU - Eilander, D.

AU - Lechner, A.

AU - Owen, J.

AU - Bird, G.

AU - Kemp, Deanna

AU - Mangalaa, K. R.

PY - 2023/9/22

Y1 - 2023/9/22

N2 - An estimated 23 million people live on floodplains affected by potentially dangerous concentrations o 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 o 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.

KW - Mining

KW - Rivers

KW - Contamination

KW - Pollution

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U2 - 10.1126/science.adg6704

DO - 10.1126/science.adg6704

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AN - SCOPUS:85171958864

SN - 0036-8075

VL - 381

SP - 1345

EP - 1350

JO - Science

JF - Science

IS - 6664

ER -

Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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