K. Komnitsas et al., Risk assessment and proposed remedial actions in coastal tailings disposalsites in Romania, MINER ENG, 11(12), 1998, pp. 1179-1190
Intensive mining and ore processing activities over the last fifty years co
ncerning phosphate and polymetallic sulphidic ores at Navodari and Baia, by
the Romanian Black Sea coast, have resulted in the production of millions
of tonnes of hazardous wastes which contain high residual concentrations of
heavy elements and radionuclides in mobile forms. At Navodari, where a che
mical plant for the production of sulphuric acid and superphosphates operat
es, over 3,000,000 m(3) of phosphogypsum and 1,000,000 m(3) of pyritic cind
ers have been disposed of in several stacks and dumps. At Baia, over 1,200,
000 t of copper tailings from the nearby located flotation plant have been
disposed of since 1965 in three decantation ponds. Under the action of seve
ral physicochemical mechanisms, toxic elements contained in the tailings ar
e mobilised, migrate to the surroundings and cause severe and widespread co
ntamination of soils, surface and ground waters and the Black Sea.
In this paper, all the above mentioned sources of pollution that are curren
tly directly or indirectly affecting humans, soils, freshwater ecosystems a
nd the Black Sea, are identified and characterised. Furthermore, in order t
o assess the level of risk posed by each source of pollution at each affect
ed area, a complete environmental characterisation study was undertaken fol
lowed by a risk analysis carried out on a source-pathway-target basis. Base
d on experimental and risk analysis data, a rehabilitation scheme is propos
ed for all affected areas, aiming at deactivating the pollution sources and
rehabilitating the contaminated areas with remedial actions. This scheme i
nvolves mainly: removal of toxic and heavy elements from sulphidic tailings
and leachates with biosorption and biosolubilisation techniques and develo
pment of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum, cinders and sulphidic tailing
s. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.