Empirical Model of Gaseous Mercury Emissions for the Analysis of Working Conditions in Outdoor Highly Contaminated Sites

Rafael Rodríguez (), Hector Garcia-Gonzalez and Efrén García-Ordiales
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Rafael Rodríguez: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, Independencia 13, 33004 Oviedo, Spain
Hector Garcia-Gonzalez: Instituto Nacional de Silicosis, 33011 Oviedo, Spain
Efrén García-Ordiales: Department of Mining Exploitation and Prospecting, School of Mining, Energy and Materials Engineering, University of Oviedo, Independencia 13, 33004 Oviedo, Spain

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-28

Abstract: The project SUBproducts4LIFE is a LIFE-funded research project that aims to demonstrate innovative circular economy concepts by repurposing industrial subproducts/waste (coal ash and gypsum from coal power plants, blast furnace slag, and steelmaking slag from steel factories) for the remediation of contaminated soils and brownfield areas associated with Hg mining on a large scale. Within the project, one of the objectives is related to worker safety by developing protocols and elaborating a guide of good practices to work under in these highly contaminated areas. The present research aims to assess the working conditions in an abandoned mine facility in terms of gaseous mercury in the environment, evaluating the main areas of the mine to ensure the health and safety of all workers and visitors. The study developed an empirical model for estimating the gaseous mercury concentration at any temperature with the target of scheduling the work to avoid occupational hazards. The research concluded that working without restrictions for temperatures under 15 °C in all the mine’s facilities is possible.

Keywords: mercury; abandoned mines; airborne; spoil tip; risk management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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