Annual emissions of pollutants from mine stone applications in drainage basins of Dutch rivers

The present paper estimates the annual emissions of eight (heavy) metals an d six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from mine stone applications in hydraulic engineering structures in Dutch river basins over the periods 1980 - 2010. Two leaching models (a diffusion and a percolation model) and three application scenarios (i.e. the stop, current perception and increase scenario) have been used. It is concluded that under the current scenarios , the contribution of mine stone to pollution of Dutch river systems is rat her low in comparison with emissions from industrial, communal and diffuse sources. However, continued and widespread large-scale applications of mine stone will lead to increased leaching of pollutants to surface waters, and may require that further cuts be made from other sources in order to meet regional, national and international emission reduction targets.