Groundwater chemistry and human health risk assessment in the mining region of East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, India

Coal is the major fossil fuel used for power generation in India. For producing more and more coal, mining activities are increasing day by day. Coal mining activities lead to environmental changes to a large extent such as degradation in quality of air, water, soil, changes in landform, land use/land cover and vegetation distribution. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is therefore important to study the nature and impact of mining activities on the environment. The present study includes a review of the environmental impact studies done on various specific aspects in India, which involve methodologies of field-site investigation, laboratory analysis and satellite data processing. The study could be broadly divided into two parts. Firstly, taking Jharia coal-field as a case study, the parameters/criteria affecting the environment have been identified. The parameters that are the most affected due to mining are air, water, soil, agricultural land, vegetation and, topography. Later, Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used for prioritizing of these parameters/criteria to carry out EIA in Jharia coal-field. Upon analysis, air has been found to be the most affected followed by water, soil, vegetation, agricultural land and topography. Moreover, the alternatives for each parameter/criterion have also been prioritized. The proposed methodology will help in deriving relationships based on field, laboratory and satellite data analysis. Once these relationships are derived, steps could be taken by policy makers for modification of the existing mine policies and incorporating the new measures in future mine planning so as to reduce the impact of coal mining on the environment.

Environmental impact studies in coalfields in India: A case study from Jharia coal-field

In a qualitative assessment of mine water from the Raniganj coalfield, 77 mine water samples were analyzed to assess water quality and suitability for domestic, industrial, and irrigation uses. The pH of the mine water ranged from 6.5 to 8.8. Total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 171 to 1,626 mg L−1; spatial differences between the TDS values reflect variations in lithology, activities, and prevailing hydrological regime. The anion chemistry was dominated by HCO3− and SO42−. On average, Cl− contributes 10 and 19% of the total anionic balance, respectively, in the Barakar and Raniganj Formation mine water. F− and NO3− contribute <2% to the total anions. The cation chemistry is dominated by Mg2+ and Ca2+ in the mine water of the Barakar Formation and Na+ in the Raniganj Formation mines. Much of the mine water, especially of the Barakar Formation area, has high TDS, total hardness, and SO4 concentrations. Concentrations of some trace metals (i.e. Fe, Cr, Ni) were found to be above the levels recommended for drinking water. However, the mine water can be used for irrigation, except at some sites, especially in the Raniganj Formation area, where high salinity, sodium adsorption ratio, %Na, residual sodium carbonate, and excess Mg restrict its suitability for agricultural uses.

Quality Assessment of Mine Water in the Raniganj Coalfield Area, India

Arsenic (As) toxicity in soil and water is an increasing menace around the globe. Its concentration both in soil and environment is due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Rising arsenic concentrations in groundwater is alarming due to the health risks to plants, animals, and human beings. Anthropogenic As contamination of soil may result from mining, milling, and smelting of copper, lead, zinc sulfide ores, hide tanning waste, dyes, chemical weapons, electroplating, gas exhaust, application of municipal sludge on land, combustion of fossil fuels, As additives to livestock feed, coal fly ash, and use of arsenical pesticides in agricultural sector. Phytoremediation can be viewed as biological, solar-driven, pump-and-treat system with an extensive, self-extending uptake network (the root system) that enhances the natural ecosystems for subsequent productive use. The present review presents recent scientific developments regarding phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated environments and its possible detoxification mechanisms in plants.

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Plants as useful vectors to reduce environmental toxic arsenic content

Groundwater samples were collected from 25 sampling sites of the Oropos–Kalamos basin aiming to describe the groundwater quality in relation to geology, lithology and anthropogenic activities of the study area. Chromium speciation analysis, factor analysis, GIS database and geochemical data proved successful tools for the identification of natural and anthropogenic factors controlling the geochemical data variability and for the identification of the redox couple controlling Cr speciation. A Durov diagram is used to classify groundwater quality into five types: Ca–HCO3, Mg–HCO3, Na–Cl, Mg–Cl and Ca–Cl. The groundwater quality of Oropos–Kalamos is influenced by various natural and anthropogenic factors. Evaluation of water quality for drinking and irrigation purposes is discussed.

https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2Fs12665-011-0914-2.pdf

Groundwater quality assessment in Oropos–Kalamos basin, Attica, Greece

Opencast lignite mines, pit-head thermal power plants, and other associated industries in the Neyveli mining and industrial complex generate huge quantities of solid and liquid wastes that are contaminated with heavy metals. Some of these are toxic or carcinogenic at sufficient concentrations. Copper, Zn, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, and Hg concentrations in surface water in the study area are from 2 to 1200 times higher than average concentrations in river water worldwide. Heavy metal contamination in the natural reservoirs (Peria, Kolakudi, Walaza, and Perumal Ponds, and the Paravannar River) is mainly due to the discharge of untreated mine water, fly-ash pond water, and effluents from associated industries. These waters have long been used for bathing, washing, animal watering, etc. Untreated mine and industrial waste water, and natural reservoir water have been used by nearby villagers for irrigation for the last four decades, which may have led to deterioration of soils, surface water, and groundwater. Heavy metal analyses of mine water, fly-ash pond and industrial effluents and the natural reservoirs reveals that Co, Cr, and Hg are above the recommended irrigation water quality standards in 17%, 75%, and 100% of the samples, respectively. Most samples were within the permissible limits for Mn, Ni, and Fe, while Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu were within the limits in all samples. At elevated concentrations, toxic metals like Cr, Co, and Hg can accumulate in soils and enter the food chain, leading to serious health hazards and threatening the long-term sustainability of the local ecosystem.

Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment in Surface Water Bodies and its Suitability for Irrigation around the Neyevli Lignite Mines and Associated Industrial Complex, Tamil Nadu, India

Adsorption and desorption of ametryn in paddy field and irrigation canal soil

Acute and chronic toxicity of difenoconazole fungicide on freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium lanchesteri)

The contamination of the hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] in the aquatic ecosystem poses environmental concerns due to its portability and highly poisonous quality. The implementation of magnetic bio-adsorbent has received immense...

A review on environmental Chemodynamics, isothermal, kinetics, and thermodynamics modeling for the adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) from the industrial effluent using magnetic nanoparticles as a bio-sorbent

H. Ahmad

Papers

Heavy Metal Pollution Assessment in Surface Water Bodies and its Suitability for Irrigation around the Neyevli Lignite Mines and Associated Industrial Complex, Tamil Nadu, India

Adsorption and desorption of ametryn in paddy field and irrigation canal soil

Acute and chronic toxicity of difenoconazole fungicide on freshwater shrimp (Macrobrachium lanchesteri)

A review on environmental Chemodynamics, isothermal, kinetics, and thermodynamics modeling for the adsorptive removal of Cr(VI) from the industrial effluent using magnetic nanoparticles as a bio-sorbent

Application of pesticide in paddy fields: a Southeast Asia case study review.