scholarly journals Colonialism and the environment: The pollution legacy of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest copper mine in the 20th century

2020 ◽  
pp. 205301962096813
Author(s):  
Larissa Schneider ◽  
Niamh Shulmeister ◽  
Michela Mariani ◽  
Kristen K Beck ◽  
Michael-Shawn Fletcher ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
British Colonialism ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Copper Producer

Mining has been a major contributor to economic development in Australia since British arrival in the late 1700s, with little to no thought regarding the long-term environmental consequences. This study assesses the metal pollution legacy caused by different smelting methods and mining activities during the British colonialism in western Tasmania. This region was the largest copper producer in the Southern Hemisphere during the 20th century. Lake sediments from Basin Lake and Owen Tarn, 12 and 5 km from Queenstown’s mines, respectively, were used to reconstruct historical metal contamination. Temporal changes in metal concentrations (iron, copper, arsenic, selenium and lead) were assessed in relation to the scale of mining activities and the technologies used. Sedimentation rates and metal influxes increased from 1900, reflecting the beginning of copper mining in Mount Lyell. Observed metal concentrations peaked after 1930, coinciding with the introduction of large-scale open-cut operations and an expansion of the mining machinery used. All elements underwent at least minor enrichment (EF 1-3) during the lifespan of the mine, with lead and copper undergoing extremely severe enrichment (EF > 50). Although smelters contributed to metal increases in the lakes, large open-cut large operations in the 1930s contributed most to metal contamination. Local metal deposition from mining-related activities decreased significantly once operations decreased, with selenium and arsenic decreasing nearly to background levels within 50 years. Lead and copper, the elements which underwent major enrichment, have not yet reached background values. The ecological consequences include the current degraded local landscape, poor water quality and disrupted local biota. Knowledge about the environmental impacts of mining in western Tasmania is less known compared to other sites around the world with a similar history. Our results demonstrate the urgent need to develop better policies and remediation programs that can mitigate the consequences of metal pollution from abandoned mines in Australia.

Managing the impacts of mining on Ghana’s water resources from a legal perspective

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 156-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasirudeen Abdul Fatawu
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Mining Activities ◽  
Protection Agency ◽  
Environmental Laws ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Legal Perspective

Recent floods in Ghana are largely blamed on mining activities. Not only are lives lost through these floods, farms andproperties are destroyed as a result. Water resources are diverted, polluted and impounded upon by both large-scale minersand small-scale miners. Although these activities are largely blamed on behavioural attitudes that need to be changed, thereare legal dimensions that should be addressed as well. Coincidentally, a great proportion of the water resources of Ghana arewithin these mining areas thus the continual pollution of these surface water sources is a serious threat to the environmentand the development of the country as a whole. The environmental laws need to be oriented properly with adequate sanctionsto tackle the impacts mining has on water resources. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure needs to bestreamlined and undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and not the company itself.

Towards Control of an Estuary

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 155-174
Author(s):  
Henk L. F. Saeijs
Keyword(s):  
Shallow Water ◽  
Storm Surge ◽  
Salt Marshes ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Oxygen Depletion ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Intertidal Flats ◽  
Environmental Consequences ◽  
Short Time

The Delta Project is in its final stage. In 1974 it was subjected to political reconsideration, but it is scheduled now for completion in 1987. The final touches are being put to the storm-surge barrier and two compartment dams that divide the Oosterschelde into three areas: one tidal, one with reduced tide, and one a freshwater lake. Compartmentalization will result in 13% of channels, 45% of intertidal flats and 59% of salt marshes being lost. There is a net gain of 7% of shallow-water areas. Human interventions with large scale impacts are not new in the Oosterschelde but the large scale and short time in which these interventions are taking place are, as is the creation of a controlled tidal system. This article focusses on the area with reduced tide and compares resent day and expected characteristics. In this reduced tidal part salt marshes will extend by 30–70%; intertidal flats will erode to a lower level and at their edges, and the area of shallow water will increase by 47%. Biomass production on the intertidal flats will decrease, with consequences for crustaceans, fishes and birds. The maximum number of waders counted on one day and the number of ‘bird-days' will decrease drastically, with negative effects for the wader populations of western Europe. The net area with a hard substratum in the reduced tidal part has more than doubled. Channels will become shallower. Detritus import will not change significantly. Stratification and oxygen depletion will be rare and local. The operation of the storm-surge barrier and the closure strategy chosen are very important for the ecosystem. Two optional closure strategies can be followed without any additional environmental consequences. It was essential to determine a clearly defined plan of action for the whole area, and to make land-use choices from the outset. How this was done is briefly described.

scholarly journals Urban Policies and Large Projects in Central City Areas: The Example of Madrid (Spain)

Urban Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Dolores Brandis García
Keyword(s):  
Urban Planning ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Central City ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Late 20Th Century ◽  
Public And Private ◽  
Urban Policies ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The City

Since the late 20th century major, European cities have exhibited large projects driven by neoliberal urban planning policies whose aim is to enhance their position on the global market. By locating these projects in central city areas, they also heighten and reinforce their privileged situation within the city as a whole, thus contributing to deepening the centre–periphery rift. The starting point for this study is the significance and scope of large projects in metropolitan cities’ urban planning agendas since the final decade of the 20th century. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the correlation between the various opposing conservative and progressive urban policies, and the projects put forward, for the city of Madrid. A study of documentary sources and the strategies deployed by public and private agents are interpreted in the light of a process during which the city has had a succession of alternating governments defending opposing urban development models. This analysis allows us to conclude that the predominant large-scale projects proposed under conservative policies have contributed to deepening the centre–periphery rift appreciated in the city.

TRADITION AND INNOVATION IN MODERN KAZAKH POETRY (XX century and independence)

2021 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-128
Author(s):  
Sh. Kuttybaev ◽  
◽  
Е. Abdimomynov ◽  
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Soviet Period ◽  
Evolutionary Development ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Literary Traditions ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
National Poetry ◽  
In The Beginning

The article analyzes views on innovation in the literary science of the early twentieth century and the work of Alash representatives in an era that is a period filled with profound changes and large-scale innovations in Kazakh society. In addition, works related to freedom, enlightenment, politics, spiritual values, the position of the people as a whole and social changes are considered the idea of independence and continuity. On the way of evolutionary development of the Kazakh literature, artistic power, thematic and ideological character, substantial and stylistic features of poetry of poets in the beginning of the XX century and during the Great Patriotic War, in subsequent years and years of independence are discussed in detail. In addition, on the basis of literary traditions and novelty, the works of prominent poets of Kazakh poetry of the 20th century and Independence are considered and comprehensively characterized, i.e. internal motives, the content of life phenomena in national poetry are analyzed in close connection with the works of poets. The original vision of the traditional and differentiated in the literature of the Soviet period in the works of poets from a new perspective, from the point of view of today. In addition, the works of outstanding poets of Kazakh poetry in the period of the 20th century and independence are considered on the basis of classical tradition and novelty in literature.

Metal contamination of urban soils in Cork, Ireland

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Binner ◽  
Timothy Sullivan ◽  
Maria E. Mc Namara
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Soil Organic Matter ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Urban Soils ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Ph Values ◽  
Background Levels

<p>Soil contamination is widespread across Europe. In particular, contamination of urban soils by metals is poorly characterised. This is a major environmental concern, especially given that urban recreational amenities may be located on former industrial sites and/or may possess ex situ soils derived from industrial areas. We surveyed soils from nine urban recreational sites (15 samples per site) in Cork city in order to assess the degree of metal contamination. The results show that Pb concentrations exceed national background levels in all soil samples from all sites by a mean of 600 % and at least 140 %. Mn, Fe and Zn are enriched above background levels in all soil samples from three (Mn and Fe) to five (Zn) of the sites and, at the remaining sites, show 7 – 14 localised hotspots. Similar hotspots characterise Cu, Rb and Sr, which each exceed background levels at eight or more sampling locations at four sites. Co, Ni, As and Sn concentrations exceed background levels in at least three hotspots at each of three to six sites. Overall, metal concentrations are highest in the sites closest to the city centre, reflecting diverse sources that potentially include traffic and current and historical domestic coal burning and industry. At each urban site, the element grouping Zn and Pb recurs in 50 to 80 % of locations and enrichment in the element grouping Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb recurs in approx. 50 % of locations; Ni and As recur in approx. 10 % of the locations. At three sites, elevated concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn and Pb are associated with high LOI (Loss-on-ignition) values – a proxy for the amount of soil organic matter present – and near-neutral pH values. Conversely, low LOI and acidic pH values are associated with lower concentrations of these elements. This indicates that soil metal concentrations are influenced by the amount of organic matter present and by pH.  Future analyses and experiments will further investigate links between soil organic matter and metal concentrations.</p>

scholarly journals The problem of studying the Montenegrin legislation of the early 20th century: normative and sociological approaches

2020 ◽  
pp. 267-282
Author(s):  
Varvara B. Khlebnikova ◽  
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Significant Part ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Normative Approach ◽  
Sociological Approach ◽  
Legal Science ◽  
Sociological Approaches ◽  
Legislative Activities

The author of the article considers the development of Montenegrin law in the 19th - early 20th centuries and tries to assess the results of the legislative activities of the Montenegrin authorities, that issued new regulations and carried out large-scale codification work on regular basis. From the point of view of the normative approach, widely used in legal science, these activities seemed quite successful; the laws that met urgent needs of the state's development were created within short periods of time. However according to the sociological approach, one has to admit that the significant part of Montenegrin legislation was just a formality and was hardly implemented in practice.

scholarly journals Heavy metal contamination of soils from abandoned mines: The case of Aouli-Mibladen-Zeïda mines in Morocco

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moulay Laârabi El Hachimi ◽  
Mohamed Fekhaoui ◽  
Abdellah El Abidi ◽  
Ali Rhoujatti
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Abandoned Mines ◽  
Contamination Of Soils
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