Stable isotopes as a tool for determining transformation and fate of sulphur in AMD affected water bodies in Meghalaya

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vivek Kumar ◽  
Dibyendu Paul ◽  
Sudhir Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Environmental Fate ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Hydrochemical Parameters ◽  
Dominant Form ◽  
Mining Areas

<p>Meghalaya, also known as ‘abode of clouds’, is a state located in north-eastern part of India, blessed with abundance of water resources. In the last few decades, extensive coal mining in different parts of Meghalaya has caused detrimental changes in the environment, particularly the aquatic systems. Acid and metal loaded effluents (also known as acid mine drainage or AMD), resulting from the exposure of sulphide mineralization to oxidizing conditions from abandoned or active mining areas, are the principal environmental problems today. Sulphate (SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>) is a major contaminant and attracts widespread attention as the dominant form of sulphur in coal mining affected aquatic systems. The increased presence of SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2- </sup>in ecosystems affected by mining activities has immense negative environmental and human health effects. Low pH and high heavy metal concentrations have been reported from streams flowing in and around the coal mining area in Meghalaya rendering the water quality to be very poor  and unfit for use as potable water.</p><p>Stable isotopes have emerged as a promising environmental tracer to understand different environmental functions and processes. Valuable information on the sources and processes can be obtained from the stable isotope ratios of chemical elements in environmental samples as the sources and processes influence history of the samples. Stable isotopes analysis combined with hydrochemical analysis enhances our understanding of transformation and environmental fate of different compounds in water bodies and can provide precise information about factors responsible for controlling water chemistry of different water bodies.</p><p>Stable isotopes of sulphur and oxygen combined with hydrochemical parameters were used as a tool for determining origin, transformation and fate of sulphur in AMD affected water bodies in Meghalaya.The study was conducted on two rivers affected by AMD, viz. Myntdu River and Lunar-Lukha River, flowing in the Jaintia Hills region of Meghalaya. The water samples collected are analysed for hydrochemical parameters and stable sulphur and oxygen isotopes (δ<sup>34</sup>S and δ<sup>18</sup>O in aqueous SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2-</sup>). The stable isotopes of sulphur and oxygen were also analysed in the coal samples from the nearby mining areas. The result provided an insight into the transformational processes of sulphur in these two AMD affected rivers and the environmental fate of sulphur.</p>

scholarly journals Ferns and Licophytes in Coal Mining Waste and Tailing Landfills

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Andreola ◽  
Daniely Neckel Rosini ◽  
Mari Lucia Campos ◽  
Josieli Pietro Biasi ◽  
Vanilde Citadini-Zanette ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Coal Extraction ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Environmental Recovery ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Local Ecosystem ◽  
Pityrogramma Calomelanos ◽  
Ferns And Lycophytes

Abstract Mineral coal extraction in Santa Catarina State (Brazil) Carboniferous Basin has degraded the local ecosystem, restricting the use of its areas. One of the biggest environmental impacts in the mining areas is the uncontrolled disposal of waste and sterile mining with high concentrations of pyrite, which in the presence of air and water is oxidized promoting the formation of acid mine drainage (AMD). These contaminants can be leached into water resources, restrict the use of water, soil and cause threats to fauna and flora. This study aimed to characterize these areas as to the content of Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn metals in the tailings and waste resulting from coal mining and to survey the species of ferns and lycophytes present. Wastes and tailing samples and specimens of ferns and lycophytes were collected in 23 landfills in six municipalities in the region and in four underlying areas used as controls. Chemical and physical analyses (pH in water and pH in KCl, Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Mn, Fe, Al, clay and OM contents) were carried out and the total contents of heavy metals Cd, Pb were determined, Ni and Zn. Sampling of ferns and lycophytes was carried out by walking. The levels of heavy metals, Cd, Ni and Zn were below the prevention concentrations established by CONAMA Resolution 420/2009. Pb levels were above prevention values ​​in four landfills. Sixteen species of ferns and one lycophyte were found, with hemicryptophytes the most frequent and helophytes the most adapted to the environment. Of the species found, Pteridium esculentum (G. Forst.) Cockayne, Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link and Telmatoblechnum serrulatum (Rich.) Perrie, DJ Ohlsen & Brownsey demonstrated resistance to degraded and contaminated environments with Pb, which may constitute an alternative for projects monitoring and environmental recovery.

The use of particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique in the biomonitoring of catarinense coal basin ecosystems: a review

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 51-59
Author(s):  
Jairo José Zocche ◽  
Vanessa Moraes de Andrade ◽  
Ricardo Aurino Pinho ◽  
Johnny Ferraz Dias
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Chemical Elements ◽  
Reference Area ◽  
Coal Basin ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Essential And Toxic Elements ◽  
Cu And Zn ◽  
High Sulfide

Brazilian coal residues contain high sulfide levels and several environmentally relevant metals and metalloids. Herein, we present a review about the use of the particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique in the analysis of chemical elements content in the biotic and abiotic compartments of Catarinense Coal Basin (CCB). The content of P, K, Ca, Fe and Zn in the soil and vegetables from coal-mining areas were found to be higher than those in the reference area. The same patterns were observed in frogs relative to the contents of P, S, K, Mn, Fe, Cu and Zn; to bats concerning the contents of P, S and Fe; and to mice fed with juice of vegetables from coal mining-areas, regarding the contents of P, K, Fe, Cu and Zn. The results suggest a possible contamination of the wild species that inhabit the coal-mined areas and that people consuming food from coal-mining areas may ingest significant amounts of chemical elements that pose a risk to health, since they contain both essential and toxic elements in a wide range of concentrations, which can do more harm than good.

Ecological and hygienic assessment pollution of surface and groundwater in Transural Region Republic of Bashkortostan

2017 ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Z.B. Baktybaeva ◽  
R.A. Suleymanov ◽  
T.K. Valeev ◽  
N.R. Rakhmatullin
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Calcium Nitrate ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Drinking Water Contamination ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Relative Contribution ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Republic Of Bashkortostan ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Surface And Groundwater

Carried out ecological and hygienic assessment of pollution of surface and groundwater of mining areas in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Revealed exceeding standards for fishery water bodies and drinking and cultural and community water use, which indicates the potential danger of surface water for the health of the region's population. The greatest relative contribution to the overall pollution of surface water bodies are making manganese (33,0–66,6 %), iron (9,1–15,6 %), calcium (6,5–11,7 %), lead (5,8– 7,2 %). The quality of water used for drinking purposes from decentralized water sources (boreholes, wells, springs), do not always correspond to the hygienic and sanitary-epidemiological requirements. In this case, the highest priority performance of drinking water contamination are increased stiffness, high content of iron, calcium, nitrate, presence cadmium, and hexavalent chromium.

scholarly journals Managing and Reforesting Degraded Post-Mining Landscape in Indonesia: A Review

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 658
Author(s):  
Pratiwi ◽  
Budi H. Narendra ◽  
Chairil A. Siregar ◽  
Maman Turjaman ◽  
Asep Hidayat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Mine Drainage ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Coal Mining ◽  
Best Management Practices ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
Forest Area ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Open Pit ◽  
Open Pit Mining ◽  
Acid Mine

Tropical forests are among the most diverse ecosystems in the world, completed by huge biodiversity. An expansion in natural resource extraction through open-pit mining activities leads to increasing land and tropical forest degradation. Proper science-based practices are needed as an effort to reclaim their function. This paper summarizes the existing practice of coal mining, covering the regulatory aspects and their reclamation obligations, the practices of coal mining from various sites with different land characteristics, and the reclamation efforts of the post-mining landscapes in Indonesia. The regulations issued accommodate the difference between mining land inside the forest area and outside the forest area, especially in the aspect of the permit authority and in evaluating the success rate of reclamation. In coal-mining practices, this paper describes starting from land clearing activities and followed by storing soil layers and overburden materials. In this step, proper handling of potentially acid-forming materials is crucial to prevent acid mine drainage. At the reclamation stage, this paper sequentially presents research results and the field applications in rearranging the overburden and soil materials, controlling acid mine drainage and erosion, and managing the drainage system, settling ponds, and pit lakes. Many efforts to reclaim post-coal-mining lands and their success rate have been reported and highlighted. Several success stories describe that post-coal-mining lands can be returned to forests that provide ecosystem services and goods. A set of science-based best management practices for post-coal-mine reforestation is needed to develop to promote the success of forest reclamation and restoration in post-coal-mining lands through the planting of high-value hardwood trees, increasing trees’ survival rates and growth, and accelerating the establishment of forest habitat through the application of proper tree planting technique. The monitoring and evaluation aspect is also crucial, as corrective action may be taken considering the different success rates for different site characteristics.

Strategies for follow-up care and utilisation of closing and flooding in European hard coal mining areas

2012 ◽  
Vol 89 ◽  
pp. 51-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Klinger ◽  
A. Charmoille ◽  
J. Bueno ◽  
G. Gzyl ◽  
B. Garzon Súcar
Keyword(s):  
Coal Mining ◽  
Hard Coal ◽  
Mining Areas ◽  
Follow Up Care ◽  
Hard Coal Mining

Prevalence and distribution of different diarrhoeagenicEscherichia colivirulotypes in major water bodies in Bangladesh

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 2516-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. AKTER ◽  
M. ISLAM ◽  
K. S. AFREEN ◽  
N. AZMUDA ◽  
S. I. KHAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Aquatic Systems ◽  
Water Bodies ◽  
Virulence Determinants ◽  
Waterborne Pathogen ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Enriched Cultures ◽  
Natural Water Bodies

SUMMARYEscherichia coli, a prominent waterborne pathogen, causes a variety of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal infections that depend on virulence determinants. To monitor natural aquatic systems for virulence-associated genes ofE. coli, multiplex PCR was used in a survey covering 46 major natural water bodies in Bangladesh. DNA was extracted directly from water samples as well as from pre-enriched and enriched cultures during three successive seasons and assessed forE. colivirulotype distribution. From the five virulotypes, genes from the enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) virulotypes were detected consistently, but genes from the enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enteroaggregative (EAEC) virulotypes were traced only occasionally. ETEC was the most prevalent virulotype, followed by EPEC. However, EIEC and EAEC virulotypes could not be detected in winter or the rainy season, respectively. Specific regional distribution patterns of differentE. colivirulotypes and their temporal fluctuations were identified. These observations may assist with assessing seasonal risk and identifying vulnerable areas of the country prone toE. coli-associated outbreaks.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document