Heavy Metal Pollution of Environment by Mine Tailings and the Potential Reclamation Techniques: A Review

Abstract

Environmental pollution through heavy metal has alarmingly been increased due to industrial and economic development worldwide. Since the industrial revolution started throughout the world, mining activities are being developed, generating huge amount of metal-rich hazardous wastes like tailings and thereby posing potential threat to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The small tailings particles can easily be spread out of the tailings ponds to the surrounding environment because of erosion driven by rain water and strong wind. Subsequently, heavy metals of tailings particles enter into the food chain in different ways and result in serious health issues in humans and animals. Therefore, ecological restoration of mine wastelands is of paramount concern. Different methods for the remediation of mine sites have been developed so far, most of which are expensive and difficult to implement. Countries having severe heavy metal pollution issues are spending huge money every year for the management purpose of these pollution sources and still scientists are doing research to establish eco-friendly, cost-effective, easily-applicable and sustainable remediation strategies for the metal-rich mine tailing sites. This review describes the way of heavy metal contamination of environment by mine tailings, negative effects of heavy metals, research development regarding remediation methods as well as suggests some ideas for the future research direction.

Keywords: Mine tailings, heavy metal contamination, sustainable remediation method, phytoremediation, amendments

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-16-05

Publication date:August 31^st 2020