Environmental impact of phosphate mining and beneficiation: review

Abstract

Although the subject of mining and its environmental impacts are very wide to be covered in this review, concerns about the impact of phosphate mining and processing typically emphasis on its potential effects on water pollution, air pollution, and human health were accessed. We reviewed published information at different stages of mining; current mines, closed old mines and reclaimed mines and at different complexity of mining; surface mining, underground mining and sea-bed phosphorite mining. Information was analyzed to understand the association of toxic metals and radioactive elements in the phosphate rocks and to trace the transfer pathways of toxic metals and radioactive elements from the phosphate rocks to the environment. According to the reviewed results the major environmental impacts of phosphate mining and processing on the water resources were: impacts on the hydrology by phosphate industry water usage and landscape changes, and impacts on water quality by discharges of industry wastewater into the waterways. Dust was a common air quality problem throughout all mining activities; fluoride emissions and radon gas emission were also serious problems. Toxic metals and radioactive elements of significant human health problems were Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, As, U Th and Ra. Most researches agreed that 226 Ra is considered as one of the most toxic radionuclide. The nuclide is of further importance as the parent nuclide of the gaseous 222 Rn which, along with its solid decay products, constitutes a significant source of radiation exposure. Scientific researches on mine water drainage and phosphate mining relationship may help to understand the environmental impacts associated with water resource and water quality.

Biotechnological synthesis of water‐soluble food‐grade polyphosphate with Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…The substrate for chemical polyP synthesis (P i ) is obtained by pH neutralization of phosphoric acid with NaOH. Problems associated with P i rock mining include an uneven global P i rock distribution, the limited nature of P i rock, environmental destruction and pollution during P i rock mining, contamination of P i rock with toxic and radioactive elements, and transportation cost (Reta et al, 2018). Strategies for the more efficient use of P i and the recycling of P i from unused P i waste streams must be developed to sustain human life on earth (Ohtake & Tsuneda, 2019).…”

Vegetation, nutrients, and CO₂ flux dynamics in northern boreal forests

“…The Sokli phosphate mine would be an open-pit mine (Pöyry Environment 2009). Such mines can cause the aerial deposition of phosphates and heavy metals into surrounding ecosystems (Reta et al 2018). The material from the mine would be transported elsewhere by trucks for further processing (Pöyry Environment 2009).…”

Limestone Quarry Waste Promotes the Growth of Two Native Woody Angiosperms

“…The increasing demand for minerals is causing expansions in mining areas; at present, 57,277 km 2 is being used for mining operations on a global scale (Maus et al, 2020). In many mining operations, waste production, and its disposal can cause extensive and long-lasting disturbances on the natural ecological processes such as changes in species composition, primarily due to unstable substrates for plant growth (Ballesteros et al, 2014;Virah-Sawmy et al, 2014;Reta et al, 2018;Sonter et al, 2018). On a large scale, mining operations impact both the abiotic and biotic components of particular ecosystems (Hester et al, 1994;Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).…”