Flood-related contamination in catchments affected by historical metal mining: An unexpected and emerging hazard of climate change

Foulds, Simon; Brewer, Paul; Macklin, Mark G.; Haresign, W.; Betson, Rachel Elizabeth; Rassner, Sara

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.12.079

Cited by 128 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Given that the floodplain alluvium of the Derwent 340 has elevated levels of metal contaminants (Kossoff et al, 2016), such a scenario of continued 341 readjustment of the channel gradient over a prolonged timescale could have detrimental long-term 342 health and environmental implications for the river system. 343 shown that removing weirs would focus erosion on contaminated alluvial sediments and result in 372 their remobilisation within the fluvial system, with potentially significant environmental effects 373 (Foulds et al, 2014). 374…”

Section: Modelling the Fluvial Corridor With Weirs In Situ And Weirs mentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential impact of green agendas on historic river landscapes: Numerical modelling of multiple weir removal in the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site, UK

2017

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Section: Modelling the Fluvial Corridor With Weirs In Situ And Weirs mentioning

confidence: 99%

The potential impact of green agendas on historic river landscapes: Numerical modelling of multiple weir removal in the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site, UK

2017

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“…During this period of rapid industrial and economic growth, industry exploited natural resources, including coal, limestone and metal ores and used water for power; however, paradoxically, many of these advantageous physiographic and geological characteristics essential to industrial development are also environments where geomorphological processes are most sensitive to climatic change. Furthermore, many of these regions, particularly those specifically associated with historic metal mining, have a legacy of pollution now trapped in floodplain soils and sediments [24][25][26][27]. Empirical evidence has shown that the release of large volumes of fine-grained sediment and toxic contaminants during periods of increased flood frequency and magnitude caused a significant number of rivers in the Northern Pennines (North Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland) to transform from single to multi-channelled braided systems during the Little Ice Age [28], the last period of major climatic deterioration.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing riverine threats to heritage assets posed by future climate change through a geomorphological approach and predictive modelling in the Derwent Valley Mills WHS, UK

Howard

Knight

Coulthard

et al. 2016

Journal of Cultural Heritage

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Future climate change is likely to pose significant challenges for heritage management, especially in landscape settings such as river valleys as the magnitude, intensity and nature of geomorphological processes alter in response to changing threshold conditions. Industrial landscapes afford particular challenges for the heritage community, not only because the location of these historic remains is often intimately linked to the physical environment, but also because these landscapes can be heavily polluted by former (industrial) processes and, if released, the legacy of contaminants trapped in floodplain soils and sediments can exacerbate erosion and denudation. Responding to these challenges requires the development of methodologies that consider landscape change beyond individual sites and monuments and this paper reports the development of such an approach based on investigation of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, Derbyshire, UK. Information on geomorphological evolution of the Derwent Valley over the last 1000 years, a time period encompassing the last two periods of major climatic deterioration, the Medieval Warm Period and Little Ice Age, has been dovetailed with archaeological and geochemical records to assess how the landscape has evolved to past landscape change. However, in addition to assessing past evolution, this methodology uses national climate change scenarios to predict future river change using the CAESAR-Lisflood model. Comparison of the results of this model to the spatial distribution of World Heritage Site assets highlights zones on the valley floor where pro-active mitigation might be required. The geomorphological and environmental science communities have long used predictive computer modelling to help understand and manage landscapes and this paper highlights an approach and area of research cross-over that would be beneficial for future heritage management.

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“…In Europe, metal(loid) inputs from former mining sites often represent an obstacle to achieve the good chemical and ecological status of surface waters aimed by the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/ EC) (Foulds et al, 2014;Mayes et al, 2009;Mighanetara et al, 2009;Younger and Wolkersdorfer, 2004). Assessment of water quality downstream from these former mining sites is generally based on discrete measurements of metal(loid) concentrations during baseflow, on a monthly or weekly basis at best.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Assessment of water quality downstream from these former mining sites is generally based on discrete measurements of metal(loid) concentrations during baseflow, on a monthly or weekly basis at best. However, little studies have focused on metal(loid) dynamic during flood events in former mining regions although floods are particularly effective agents of metal(loid) transport in rivers (Bradley, 1984;Coynel et al, 2007;Dennis et al, 2003;Foulds et al, 2014;Gozzard et al, 2011;Miller et al, 1999;Žák et al, 2009). This is especially relevant in Mediterranean rivers affected by short and intense floods during which the great part of suspended particulate matter (SPM) and contaminant flux occur (Cánovas et al, 2008(Cánovas et al, , 2012David et al, 2012;Meybeck, 2001;Pont et al, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation of dissolved and particulate metal(loid) (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl, Zn) concentrations under varying discharge during a Mediterranean flood in a former mining watershed, the Gardon River (France)

Resongles

Casiot

Freydier

et al. 2015

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

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The variation of dissolved and particulate metal(loid) concentrations was investigated during a Mediterranean flood in a former mining watershed, the Gardon River (SE France), using high-temporal resolution sampling. Dissolved antimony originating from the Upper Gardon River watershed underwent dilution during flood. Conversely, dissolved As and particulate As, Pb, Zn, Cd and Tl concentrations exhibited increased values during rising flood compared to low and receding flow conditions, with a double-peak shape. As, Pb, Cd and Tl concentration data in suspended particulate matter from this double-peak were distributed along two different correlation lines, showing the successive mobilization of two groups of particles highly enriched with As and Cd or Pb and Tl, both inherited from ancient Pb/Zn mines. Metal(loid) loads during the monitored 24 h-flood event were: 0.5 kg for Cd, 19.4 kg for Sb and 204 kg for As in the dissolved phase and 24 kg for Cd, 38 kg for Tl, 94 kg for Sb, 1915 kg for As, 2860 kg for Pb and 5214 kg for Zn in the particulate phase. Altogether, these results highlighted the importance of floods in the mobilization of metals and metalloids from ancient mining sites in Mediterranean regions, showing the need for high-temporal resolution monitoring of flood events to accurately assess the long-term contribution of mining activity to metal(loid) loads of downstream watershed.Please cite this article as: Resongles, E., et al., Variation of dissolved and particulate metal(loid) (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl, Zn) concentrations under varying discharge during a Medite.

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Flood-related contamination in catchments affected by historical metal mining: An unexpected and emerging hazard of climate change

Cited by 128 publications

References 47 publications

The potential impact of green agendas on historic river landscapes: Numerical modelling of multiple weir removal in the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site, UK

The potential impact of green agendas on historic river landscapes: Numerical modelling of multiple weir removal in the Derwent Valley Mills world heritage site, UK

Assessing riverine threats to heritage assets posed by future climate change through a geomorphological approach and predictive modelling in the Derwent Valley Mills WHS, UK

Variation of dissolved and particulate metal(loid) (As, Cd, Pb, Sb, Tl, Zn) concentrations under varying discharge during a Mediterranean flood in a former mining watershed, the Gardon River (France)

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