Mine Wastewater Effect on the Aquatic Diversity and the Ecological Status of the Watercourses in Southern Poland
Krzysztof Mitko,
Piotr Dydo,
Andrzej K. Milewski,
Joanna Bok-Badura,
Agata Jakóbik-Kolon,
Tomasz Krawczyk,
Anna Cieplok,
Mariola Krodkiewska,
Aneta Spyra,
Grzegorz Gzyl,
Anna Skalny,
Beata Kończak,
Maria Bałazińska,
Paweł Łabaj,
Anna Tetłak,
Maria Kyriazi,
Stavroula Klempetsani
Affiliations
Krzysztof Mitko
Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 6 Krzywoustego Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Piotr Dydo
Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 6 Krzywoustego Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Andrzej K. Milewski
Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 6 Krzywoustego Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Joanna Bok-Badura
Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 6 Krzywoustego Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Agata Jakóbik-Kolon
Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Inorganic, Analytical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, 6 Krzywoustego Str., 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Tomasz Krawczyk
Department of Chemical Organic Technology and Petrochemistry, Silesian University of Technology, Krzywoustego 4, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Anna Cieplok
Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, 9 Bankowa Str., 40-007 Katowice, Poland
Mariola Krodkiewska
Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, 9 Bankowa Str., 40-007 Katowice, Poland
Aneta Spyra
Institute of Biology, Biotechnology, and Environmental Protection, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Silesia, 9 Bankowa Str., 40-007 Katowice, Poland
Grzegorz Gzyl
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Anna Skalny
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Beata Kończak
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Maria Bałazińska
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Paweł Łabaj
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Anna Tetłak
Water Protection Department, Central Mining Institute—National Research Institute, 1 Plac Gwarkow, 40166 Katowice, Poland
Maria Kyriazi
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou St., Zographou Campus Athens, 157 73 Athens, Greece
Stavroula Klempetsani
School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Iroon Polytechneiou St., Zographou Campus Athens, 157 73 Athens, Greece
Coal mining activity contributes to energy security and employment occupation, but is associated with environmental deterioration. Coal combustion leads to GHG emissions, while coal mining results in the generation of saline effluents. These effluents are discharged in inland surface waters, applying significant pressure on their quality, with a negative impact on aquatic life and the economy of a region. This study includes water samples that were analyzed in order to investigate the organic compounds, heavy metals, and other physicochemical parameters. Biological monitoring was done according to the Water Framework Directive methodology. The results from an aquatic area in Southern Poland, which indirectly receives coal mine effluents, indicate elevated salinity with excessive chlorides, sulfates, and sodium ions. The water quality of another non-polluted aquatic area was also assessed to examine the impact of indirect coal mine wastewater discharge on this area. The high salinity levels hinder the use of river water for drinking, agricultural, or industrial purposes. The results obtained show high pressure on the ecological status of streams and rivers that receive mine effluents, and on the density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates. This pressure is clearly visible in the structure of benthic communities and in invertebrate diversity. It also contributes to the appearance of invasive species and increasing water salinity. Limiting discharges of mine water transporting large loads of saline substances would reduce the negative impact on the quality of river waters and biological life.
