Soil, air, and water pollution from mining and industrial activities: Sources of pollution, environmental impacts, and prevention and control methods

Abstract

Mining activities, as essential components of industrial development, play a crucial role in the economy. However, they often entail significant environmental consequences, notably soil contamination by heavy metals. This article aims to comprehensively review the issue of soil pollution with heavy metals resulting from mining operations, focusing specifically on the ions of arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and zinc. It begins by examining the sources and impacts of this pollution on soil, water, vegetation, wildlife, and human health. Various methods for monitoring and assessing soil contamination with these heavy metal ions are then discussed, including sampling, chemical analysis, remote sensing, and modeling techniques. Finally, a range of management and control strategies for addressing this form of pollution are presented, encompassing biological, chemical, and physical approaches, alongside innovative and sustainable practices within the mining sector. In conclusion, soil contamination with heavy metal ions from mining activities poses a significant environmental challenge, necessitating the implementation of diverse monitoring, assessment, and mitigation measures to safeguard human health and ecosystem integrity. Future research should prioritize developing innovative technologies for mitigating and remediating contamination from lead, zinc, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic, leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for predictive modeling and risk assessment, and promoting sustainable and environmentally friendly mining practices.

Keywords

• Mining industry
• Environmental impact
• Heavy metal ions
• Monitoring
• Artificial intelligence
• GIS