Development
of a Risk Assessment Tool to Minimise the Impact of Arsenic and Lead Toxicity
from Mine Tailings
Definition
of Research Needs for the Management and Rehabilitation of Tailings Disposal
Facilities
Development
of a Risk Assessment Tool to Minimise the Impact of Arsenic and Lead Toxicity
from Mine Tailings
Background
|
The establishment
of mine closure criteria for metalliferous mines requires consideration
of the bioavailability of metals and metalloids and a risk-based
assessment procedure.
|
Objectives |
- Undertake
a risk characterisation by generating metal and metalloid bioavailability
data for a range of mine wastes via administering controlled doses
to animals.
- Develop a
risk-based management tool for mine closure.
|
Outcome |
- Facilitation
of development of new guidelines for mine closure based upon more
accurate assessment of bioavailability of metals and metalloids
to animals.
|
Methodology |
Cattle were
given a controlled dose of either mine waste material or a metal
or metalloid control solutions (approximately 100% bioavailability)
over a nine-month period. Each animal was sampled for blood, muscle
and liver throughout the trial to determine metal and metalloid
bioavailability and associated accumulation. Additionally, two
high intensity cattle grazing trials were conducted directly on
rehabilitated mine waste facilities to provide validation of the
bioavailability estimates already gained, whilst quantifyingin
situ exposure pathways and realistic dose rates. The management
tool also incorporates pig and rodent models (in progress), which
extends the bioavailability data, and will provide the relatively
inexpensive risk assessment framework required for improved mine
closure.
|
Project
Team |
Mr Scott Bruce,
Assoc Prof Barry Noller and Dr Jack Ng (Natural Research Centre
for Environmental Technology)
|
Project
Duration |
2000
- 2003 |
Project
Sponsors |
- ACMER
- Australian
Research Council
- Kidston
Gold Mines Limited
- Pasminco
Limited
- Queensland
Department of Natural Resources and Mines
- Queensland
Environmental Protection Agency
- Queensland
Health Sciences
|
Project
Summary |
Bruce, S.L.
(2002) Bioavailability of metals and metalloids in mined land
as the basis for development of guideline values for mine closure.
MCA Sustainable Development Conference Proceedings, 10-15 November
2002, MCA, Canberra. pp243-267.
|
More
Information |
Assoc Prof
Barry Noller (NRCET) Tel: 07 3274 9221
|
Definition
of Research Needs for the Management and Rehabilitation of Tailings Disposal
Facilities
This 1-year project,
which had 8 industry sponsors in addition to Environment Australia and
the NSW Department of Mineral Resources, had the objectives of:
- reviewing and evaluating
existing information on tailings management in Australia;
- defining the scientific
and technical objectives to facilitate industry management of tailings
facilities;
- consulting with
industry and obtaining feedback on research needs and directions; and
- identifying and
describing the scientific objectives of priority research projects on
tailings management in Australia.
The study, which was
coordinated by Assoc Prof Richard Jewell (Australian Centre for Geomechanics)
and Dr Lloyd Townley (Townley and Associates), involved six reviews on
geochemical, geotechnical disposal and hydrological issues, erosion, and
air and water-borne contaminant movement and was completed in 1999.
Following the scoping
study on research needs, an ACMER workshop on "Future Directions
in Tailings Environmental Management" provided the basis for a long-term
plan for the tailings environmental research being developed by the Centre.
Project Sponsors:
BHP Billiton Limited,
Homestake Gold of Australia, Newcrest Mining Limited, Normandy Mining
Limited, North Limited, Placer Dome Asia Pacific Limited, Rio Tinto Limited,
WMC Resources Ltd, the New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources
and the Supervising Scientist Group (Environment Australia).
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