Comprehensive Assessment of Tailing Dumps’ Impact on Water Quality of Rivers, Lakes, and Wells from Mining Areas

Ovidiu Murarescu, Cristiana Radulescu (), Ioana Daniela Dulama, George Muratoreanu, Gica Pehoiu, Raluca Maria Stirbescu, Ioan Alin Bucurica, Sorina Geanina Stanescu, Constantin Aurelian Ionescu and Andreea Laura Banica
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Ovidiu Murarescu: Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130105 Targoviste, Romania
Cristiana Radulescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Ioana Daniela Dulama: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
George Muratoreanu: Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130105 Targoviste, Romania
Gica Pehoiu: Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130105 Targoviste, Romania
Raluca Maria Stirbescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Ioan Alin Bucurica: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Sorina Geanina Stanescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Constantin Aurelian Ionescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Andreea Laura Banica: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-25

Abstract: This study is the third in a series of investigations conducted by the authors, and certainly the most comprehensive research regarding the former uranium, copper, and charcoal mines from a particular geographical area of Romania. In this respect, the present scientific incursion focused on two areas containing former extraction uranium ore sites, Ciudanovita and Lisava, as well as copper ore from Moldova Noua and charcoal mines from Anina, Banat Region, Romania. It highlighted that, for the first time, the heavy metal concentration was correlated with the values of physicochemical indicators of water (i.e., EC, DO, pH, resistivity, salinity, and ORP), by using multivariate analysis, to shape a regional based model on spatial distributions and the variability of toxic contaminants from the hydrographic basin of Banat, Romania, as a consequence of former uranium, copper, and charcoal mines. In this regard, 11 metals including Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd, and Pb from different water samples (well, spring, river, and lake), collected from three mining areas (uranium, copper, and coal mines) were investigated. Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks of seven heavy metals were assessed using the EDI, DIM, and THQ. The obtained THQ values were within the acceptable limits for cancer risks for adults, but as regards children, eight samples out of 18 proved toxic. However, the HRI and THQ average values for Cd (0.265 adults/0.996 children) and Pb (0.025 adults/0.095 children) for children were 3–4 times higher than those for adults. This is a source of concern as their prevalence in well water exposes children and residents in the Banat Region to the risk of various types of cancers.

Keywords: mining; tailing dumps; uranium; copper; charcoal; contaminant; river; lake; well; health risk; carcinogenic risk; multivariate analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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