ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination Levels and Health Risks in a Mining Area in Sichuan Province, China
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PowerChina Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited. Xi’an City, Shaanxi Province, China
 
 
Submission date: 2025-02-21
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-03-20
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-04-19
 
 
Online publication date: 2025-06-05
 
 
Corresponding author
Daiwen Zhu   

PowerChina Northwest Engineering Corporation Limited. Xi’an city, Shaanxi province, China, Xi’an, China
 
 
 
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ABSTRACT
Soil and water pollution, particularly from industrial activities like mining, has become a significant environmental concern. Despite extensive research, there are still crucial gaps in understanding the long-term impacts of contaminants from mineral processing plants on local ecosystems and communities. This study aims to address these gaps by systematically evaluating the soil and water quality around a defunct mineral processing facility in Maerkang County, Sichuan Province, China. Through field surveys, sampling, and laboratory analysis, both inorganic and organic pollutants, including heavy metals and hazardous chemicals related to the mining process, were identified. The results indicated that soil and groundwater samples were within the acceptable limits of national standards, suggesting a low immediate risk to human health. However, the leachate from stockpiled tailings had elevated pH levels, classifying it as second-category solid waste that requires treatment. Additionally, the site is located in an area expected to be flooded by a reservoir, necessitating the prompt disposal of accumulated tailings. This research contributes to understanding the environmental risks of past mining activities and provides valuable insights for future land management and remediation in similar areas.
eISSN:2083-5906
ISSN:1230-1485
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