Probabilistic risk assessment of residential exposure to metal(loid)s in a mining impacted community

Huerta, Diego G.; Schobel, Taylor; Alexander-Ozinskas, Annika; Hild, Joanne; Lauder, Jeff; Reynolds, Peggy; Behren, Julie Von; Meltzer, Dan; Ramírez‐Andreotta, Mónica D.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162228

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

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“…For example, the export of food produced on contaminated floodplains will often enter a spatially extensive food chain, and this will require new human biomonitoring and food basket studies (46). However, existing evidence already demonstrates that human health can be directly affected through the ingestion, inhalation, and absorption of metal-contaminated soil and indirectly through the quantity and quality of food that is derived from soil-based agriculture (9,14,(47)(48)(49).…”

Section: Implications For Ecosystems and Human Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of metal mining on river systems: a global assessment

Macklin,

Thomas,

Mudbhatkal

et al. 2023

Science

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An estimated 23 million people live on floodplains affected by potentially dangerous concentrations of toxic waste derived from past and present metal mining activity. We analyzed the global dimensions of this hazard, particularly in regard to lead, zinc, copper, and arsenic, using a georeferenced global database detailing all known metal mining sites and intact and failed tailings storage facilities. We then used process-based and empirically tested modeling to produce a global assessment of metal mining contamination in river systems and the numbers of human populations and livestock exposed. Worldwide, metal mines affect 479,200 kilometers of river channels and 164,000 square kilometers of floodplains. The number of people exposed to contamination sourced from long-term discharge of mining waste into rivers is almost 50 times greater than the number directly affected by tailings dam failures.

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