Areas Of Contamination Research Articles

VERTICAL DISTRIBUTION OF RADIONUCLIDES IN SOILS OF SEMIPALATINSK TEST SITE

The article addresses the pattern of vertical distribution of the major long-lived man-made radionuclides 137Cs, 241Am, 90Sr and 239+240Pu in soils of the Semipalatinsk Test Site. Areas of different contamination with radionuclides are discussed – places of aboveground nuclear and fusion tests conducted at the ‘Experimental Field’ site, the fallout in the form of plumes within the Semipalatinsk Test Site, areas of radiological warfare agent tests at the ‘4А’ site, areas of meadow ecosystems associated with radioactively contaminated water streams from test adits of the ‘Degelen’ testing site, conventionally ‘background’ areas of the test site, in which no nuclear or fusion tests were conducted. In the course of research, differences were revealed in the vertical distribution of radionuclides of interest in soils of the above areas. Differences are attributed to the pattern of how contamination with radionuclides is formed and to abiotic and biotic factors such as physical and chemical soil properties, moistening conditions, human activity and others. Based upon findings, recommendations were developed, aimed at the optimization of research into the vertical distribution of radionuclides in the soil cover of the former Semipalatinsk test Site. In particular, it was found that when undertaking such research, it was sufficient to confine oneself to dividing a territory by the soil type and restrict the research depth to 30 cm.

Arsenic and heavy metals at Japanese abandoned chemical weapons site in China: distribution characterization, source identification and contamination risk assessment.

As-containing chemical weapons (CWs) and their degraded products pose a great threat to the environment and to human health. In this study, concentration and distribution characteristics, source identification, and health risk assessments were determined for As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in environmental samples from Lianhuapao (LHP), a typical site of Japanese abandoned chemical weapons (JACWs) in China. The results show that the concentration levels of As, Cr and Ni in the LHP soils are abnormally high, with 69.57%, 83.33% and 91.67%, respectively, of the total sample exceeding the risk screening values for soil contamination of agricultural land. As levels in water samples were generally within safety limits, with the exception of perched water in the core contamination area. In the study area, none of the dominant plant species were enriched with As, except for the Pteris vittata L. Pentavalent arsenic was found to be the predominant arsenic species in the topsoil and water samples. Source identification using statistical approaches indicated that the concentrations of As, Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn are likely influenced by JACWs, while Cr and Ni levels may be related to the natural weathering process. The total concentrations of As, Cr and Ni showed a significant degree of contamination, but only As displayed high potential ecological risk. The calculated indexes of health risk evaluation strongly indicate an unacceptable carcinogenic risk (1E-04) to children, and higher non-carcinogenic risk, relative to that of adults. Our data indicate that the health risk from the resulting As contamination is still a cause for concern, although the JACWs were excavated decades ago from these soils.

A review of the top 100 most cited papers on food safety

With the ever-increasing changes and growing scientific output in the field of food safety, it has become imperative to measure, analyze, characterize and compare existing publications quantitatively. The present study aimed to identify and analyze the characteristics of the 100 top-cited studies on food safety. Food safety articles published in the Web of Science Core Collection database between 1950 and 2020 were collected, and bibliometric parameters were assessed. Data analysis was performed using VOSviewer software to visualize linkages and establish relationships between articles, keywords, research areas, authors, countries and institutions, among others, providing insight into the most impactful studies related to food safety. This study highlights that research focused on food safety is growing rapidly globally and cuts across several fields, including biotechnology, microbiology, food processing and preservation, consumer studies, and policy development. There is a dearth of research articles in the areas of chemical contamination of foods by pesticides and other chemical residues and in food fraud detection and prevention studies.

Identification of pollution sources and spatial distribution of trace metals in soils of the industrial area El Hadjar (Annaba, Algeria)

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to investigate trace metal contents in soils, to determine their spatial distribution, and to identify their potential natural either anthropogenic sources using multivariate statistical approaches. Soils were taken in the industrial area of El Hadjar (NE-Algeria) at 0-10 and 10-20 cm. The results revealed an order of Fe > Zn > Pb > Cu > Cr, whatever the depth. Mean concentrations of Fe, Zn, Pb, Cu and Cr were 31191, 219.87, 96.76, 47.87, 28.27 µg/g, respectively, at 0-10 cm, and 29,792, 304.09, 115.45, 49.08, 28.16 µg/g, at 10-20 cm. Cr and Fe mean concentrations were below or close to soils worldwide backgrounds. These metals perhaps principally derive from natural sources. The percentages of sites with Zn, Pb and Cu contents over the background values were: 88.23% (Zn) > 82.35% (Pb) > 52.94% (Cu) at 0-10 cm, and 94.11% (Zn) > 88.23% (Pb) > 41.17% (Cu) at 10-20 cm. Hotspot areas of metal contamination were mainly concentrated around the Arcelor Mittal complex which seems to be the strongest effect factor influencing the spatial distributions of these metals. Results of this study suggest that Cr and Fe are predominantly derived from natural sources; Pb and Zn from industrial sources; and Cu from agricultural and industrial ones.

Avian influenza antibody prevalence increases with mercury contamination in wild waterfowl.

Environmental contamination is widespread and can negatively impact wildlife health. Some contaminants, including heavy metals, have immunosuppressive effects, but prior studies have rarely measured contamination and disease simultaneously, which limits our understanding of how contaminants and pathogens interact to influence wildlife health. Here, we measured mercury concentrations, influenza infection, influenza antibodies and body condition in 749 individuals from 11 species of wild ducks overwintering in California. We found that the odds of prior influenza infection increased more than fivefold across the observed range of blood mercury concentrations, while accounting for species, age, sex and date. Influenza infection prevalence was also higher in species with higher average mercury concentrations. We detected no relationship between influenza infection and body fat content. This positive relationship between influenza prevalence and mercury concentrations in migratory waterfowl suggests that immunotoxic effects of mercury contamination could promote the spread of avian influenza along migratory flyways, especially if influenza has minimal effects on bird health and mobility. More generally, these results show that the effects of environmental contamination could extend beyond the geographical area of contamination itself by altering the prevalence of infectious diseases in highly mobile hosts.

ХИМИЧЕСКОЕ ОРУЖИЕ В БАЛТИЙСКОМ МОРЕ: ПОТЕНЦИАЛЬНЫЕ УГРОЗЫ ДЛЯ ОКРУЖАЮЩЕЙ СРЕДЫ И ЗДОРОВЬЯ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ; ПРОЙДЕННЫЕ И ПРЕДСТОЯЩИЕ ЗАДАЧИ НА ПУТИ РЕШЕНИЯ ПРОБЛЕМЫ

A brief overview of potential threats from chemical weapons (CW) dumped in the Baltic Sea is presented. The most common, long-acting and dangerous chemical warfare agents (CWAs) are those that are persistent in the marine environment. The main mechanisms of the transfer of CWAs from dumpsites to other areas of the Baltic Sea are considered. It is noted that the risk of acute effects on biota and humans of CWAs migrating in the form of polluted particulate suspended matter and polluting the sea bottom at large distances from dumpsites is negligible, but with regard to the harmfulness of CWAs entering the food chain, additional studies of their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects are needed. A step-by-step path for the development of complex research on the problem, the tasks of the stages and the role of international cooperation in their solution are presented. The need to continue field studies is substantiated to complete the mapping of dumped CW and monitoring areas of secondary contamination of the seabed, while attention should be paid to the identification of potentially hazardous underwater objects based on a complete chemical analysis of samples taken near the discovered artefacts. If it is impossible to cooperate with Western partners, Russia must find its own forces and means to complete the research in full.

Cloudwater Deposition Process of Radionuclides Based on Water Droplets Retrieved from Pollen Sensor Data.

Radionuclides released during the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident caused altitude-dependent surface contamination in the mountainous areas of Japan. To explore the possible cloudwater deposition that formed a distinctive contamination profile, data from pollen sensors deployed nationwide were analyzed. Utilizing the polarization of scattered light, Cedar pollen and water droplets were distinguished. On March 15, when surface contamination was simulated in previous studies, dense clouds with high droplet number concentrations were observed outside the 137Cs surface deposition areas, indicating that the sensor sites were immersed amid cloud layers. In contrast, cloud droplets with moderate number concentrations were measured at altitudes of approximately 570-840 m, which overlapped with the surface contamination areas. Considering the existing knowledge on vertical gradients of cloudwater composition, these suggest that contaminated cloud droplets were localized near the cloud base where a moderate number concentration of cloud droplets was measured. A formation process was proposed for the observed vertical distribution, that is, surface contamination occurred intensively at the contact line between the cloud base and mountain slopes via cloudwater deposition, and the descending cloud base formed the contamination zone. This study sheds light on the deposition processes of radionuclides, which have not previously been clarified.

Determining heavy metal pollution in sediments from the largest impounded lake in the eastern route of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project: Ecological risks, sources, and implications for lake management

The eastern route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (ER-SNWDP) is a major human health project designed to alleviate the water scarcity in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in China. Impounded lake water security is directly related to the water diversion project effectiveness. At present, there is not a thorough understanding of the sediment heavy metals in Lake Hongze, the largest impounded lake of the ER-SNWDP. Consequently, this study reports a distribution analysis of Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, and Ni in 101 sediment samples from Lake Hongze; we, utilized the enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, and potential ecological risk index for the are to determine the ecological risk of heavy metals. The heavy metal source was examined with correlation analysis and principal component analysis–multiple linear regressions. The results showed that the average heavy metal content (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd, As, Hg, Ni) were 0.03–1.57 times greater than the Jiangsu Province background values. Cd, As, and Hg were the main contributors to the Lake Hongze ecological risk. Spatially, the open water area was the most polluted among the four lake parts, and most of the flushing area had a low ecological risk. Chengzi bay and the western lake area have similar risk profiles, but are lower than the open water area risk. Source analysis showed that nonpoint-source agricultural pollution and industrial production were important pollution sources, while a considerable portion of the heavy metal content came from atmospheric deposition and natural sources. This study identified the main contamination areas and revealed the possible sources of each heavy metal; as such, this study can serve as a reference for the remediation and management of Lake Hongze to ensure the water safety of the ER-SNWDP.

Thin foil body-shield resuscitation barrier device to protect from blood: an experimental study

In times of collective concern about pandemics, body-shield resuscitation barrier devices are more and more considered to protect against transmission of different pathogens between rescuers and patients. The objective of this experimental study was to investigate the characteristics of blood drops dispersed on the surface of four different foils suitable for blanketing patients during resuscitation. We analyzed run-off characteristics of blood stains depending on surface properties of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate and aluminum-coated polyethylene terephthalate. Confocal fluorescence microscopy revealed less cellular density and lack of fibrin networks in blood stains on the four foil surfaces than on paper towel. Delayed clotting went along with larger areas of contamination indicating a greater likelihood of coming into contact with potential germs but a smaller chance of contracting an infection. Space blankets as obligatory components of first aid kits are readily available for rescuers and serve as a mechanical barrier between rescuers and patients during resuscitation.

Combatting malaria disease among gold miners: a qualitative research within the Malakit project.

Malaria is endemic in French Guiana, in particular, where illegal gold mining activities take place. Gold miners travel from Brazil to remote camps in the Guiana forest to carry out mining activities, exposing themselves to the presumed contamination area. This article presents the results of a qualitative case study of the Malakit project, an intervention where health facilitators offer appropriate training and distribution of self-diagnosis and self-treatment kits to manage an episode of malaria at resting sites on the French Guiana borders. The objectives were: (i) Determine the contextual elements influencing the use of Malakit; (ii) Understand the way gold miners perceive Malakit; (iii) Identify the elements that are favorable and unfavorable to the use of Malakit; (iv4) Identify what can be improved in the project. The data were collected using three methods: on-site observation, semi-structured individual interviews (n = 26), and group interviews (n = 2). The results indicate that Malakit responds to the need for treatment and facilitates access to care. Gold miners say they trust the facilitators and receive accurate explanations, the kit is easy to use and carry, and explanations given are sufficient. Nonetheless, the results lead us to believe that contextual elements influence exposure to numerous risk factors and that malaria among gold miners working illegally in French Guiana is a question of social inequalities in health. Thus, malaria intervention practices such as Malakit cannot be carried out without considering the complexity generated by social inequalities in health.

Host feces, olfactory beacon guiding aggregation of intestinal parasites Gasterophilus pecorum (Diptera: Gasterophilidae).

The aim of this study was to identify the aggregation sites and transmission characteristics of Gasterophilus pecorum, the dominant pathogen of endangered equines in desert steppe. Therefore, we tested with a four-arm olfactometer the olfactory response of the G. pecorum adults to the odors that have a great impact on their life cycle, and also investigated the occurrence sites of the adults in the area where the Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) roam frequently during the peak period of G. pecorum infection. The results of four-directional olfactory test showed that the fresh horse feces had a stronger attraction rate on both male (50.4%) and female flies (38.2%). Stipa caucasica, the only oviposition plant where G. pecorum lay eggs, had a better attraction effect on females than that on males. And the attraction rates of S. caucasica to G. pecorum females in the early growth stage (Stipa I) and mid-growth stage (Stipa II) were 32.8% and 36.8%, respectively. In addition, the two-directional olfactory test showed that the attraction rate of males to fresh horse feces (68.90%) was higher than that to Stipa II (31.10%), and females also showed similar olfactory responses. Moreover, in our field investigation, 68.29% of G. pecorum adults were collected from around the horse feces. The results of laboratory test and field investigation implied that the location mechanism of G. pecorum aggregation for mating is related to the orientation of horse feces. The horse feces and the vicinity are the key contamination areas of G. pecorum, and it is also the areas where horses are seriously infected with G. pecorum. Those fresh feces, which gather abundant information about the host, naturally had the greatest chance of contacting with the host; G. pecorum adults create the opportunity to enter directly into the host's mouth and infect the host by laying eggs on S. caucasica, which is the most favorite plant of the host in this area. These characteristics are one of the main reasons why G. pecorum has become the dominant species under the condition of sparse vegetation in desert steppe.

Calculation of Skin Dose Rate Conversion Factors Due to Surface Contamination from Frequently used Radionuclides in Local Nuclear and Medical Facilities.

The use of nonsealed radioactive sources can lead to skin contamination due to radiological accidents and staff oversight. This contamination has been shown to contribute considerably to the total skin dose received by nuclear medicine technicians and can easily exceed the limit of 500 mSv/year established by the current regulations. To assess the severity of contamination, it is necessary to estimate the skin dose through the use of suitable skin dose rate conversion factors. To determine the appropriate factors, it is important to study the influence of the contamination area, the epidermal thickness, and the percutaneous absorption on them. Monte Carlo simulations using the code PHITS 3.02 were carried out to study and quantify the dosimetry conversion factors of 15 frequently used radionuclides (11C, 18F, 36Cl, 54Mn, 60Co, 90Sr, 99 mTc, 123I, 131I, 137Cs, 153Sm, 177 Lu, 223Ra, 226Ra, and 241Am). The absorbed dose to the skin is significantly influenced by epidermal thickness and percutaneous absorptions and can differ by up to two orders of magnitude with respect to the operational magnitude H'(0.07,0°). Skin dosimetry after a contamination incident may be complex because the absorbed dose delivered to the basal layer is influenced by the contamination area, the epidermal thickness, and the percutaneous absorption. Therefore, when an accident occurs, the dose should be quantified taking into account these parameters, especially the epidermal thickness, and the possible percutaneous absorption should be evaluated in cases where the contamination involves a dose approximately equivalent to the established limits.

Research on Cyanobacterial-Bloom Detection Based on Multispectral Imaging and Deep-Learning Method.

Frequent outbreaks of cyanobacterial blooms have become one of the most challenging water ecosystem issues and a critical concern in environmental protection. To overcome the poor stability of traditional detection algorithms, this paper proposes a method for detecting cyanobacterial blooms based on a deep-learning algorithm. An improved vegetation-index method based on a multispectral image taken by an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) was adopted to extract inconspicuous spectral features of cyanobacterial blooms. To enhance the recognition accuracy of cyanobacterial blooms in complex scenes with noise such as reflections and shadows, an improved transformer model based on a feature-enhancement module and pixel-correction fusion was employed. The algorithm proposed in this paper was implemented in several rivers in China, achieving a detection accuracy of cyanobacterial blooms of more than 85%. The estimate of the proportion of the algae bloom contamination area and the severity of pollution were basically accurate. This paper can lay a foundation for ecological and environmental departments for the effective prevention and control of cyanobacterial blooms.

Varietal differences influence arsenic and lead contamination of rice grown in mining impacted agricultural fields of Zamfara State, Nigeria

In Zamfara state, Nigeria, rice is cultivated in fields contaminated with Pb (lead) from artisanal and illicit mining activities. Rice grown in such contaminated agricultural areas risks not only Pb contamination but also contamination from other toxic elements, like arsenic (As); co-contamination of Pb and As in rice cultivated in mining impacted areas has been previously reported and rice is a hyperaccumulator of As. A field study was conducted with ten different commonly-cultivated Nigerian rice varieties in the mining-impacted farmlands of Dareta village, Zamfara State. The aim was to determine the optimal rice variety for cultivation on these contaminated farmlands; an optimal variety would have the lowest contaminant concentrations and highest essential elements concentrations in the rice grains. A total of 300 paired soil and rice plants were collected. The mean As and Pb concentrations in paddy soils were 0.91 ± 0.82 mg kg−1 and 288.5 ± 464.2 mg kg−1, respectively. Mean As (30.4 ± 15.1 μg kg−1) content in rice grains was an order of magnitude lower than the Codex recommendation of 200 μg kg−1 (for milled rice) while the Pb content in all the rice varieties (overall mean of 743 ± 327 μg kg−1) was approximately four times higher than the Codex recommendation of 200 μg kg−1. Contrary to previous studies, a negative correlation was observed between As and Pb in rice grains across all the varieties. Rice variety Bisalayi was the variety with the lowest Pb transfer factor (TF = 0.08), but the average Pb concentration in rice grain was still above the Codex recommendation. Bisalayi also had the highest TF for iron. Variety ART_15, which had the lowest As uptake (TF = 0.10), had the highest TF for essential elements (magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and copper). In areas of Pb contamination, Bisalayi rice may therefore be a suitable variety to choose for cultivation.

Mathematical modeling of air pollution in working room

Purpose. Development of CFD model and computer code for the analysis and forecasting of the process of formation of areas of chemical contamination in the workplace in the event of an emergency leak of a hazardous substance, allowing to take into account the influence of obstacles and the operation of the ventilation system on this process. The methods. The masstransfer equation is used to calculate the process of formation of areas of chemical contamination in the workplace over time. Navier-Stokes equations are used to solve the problem of aerodynamics – determination of the air flow velocity field in the room. For the numerical solution of modeling equations, finite-difference splitting schemes are used. On the basis of the developed numerical model, a computer code was created for conducting computational experiments Findings. An effective CFD model and computer code were created, which allow to quickly analyze the level of chemical pollution of working areas in possible emergency situations accompanied by the emission of dangerous substances. The results of the computational experiment are presented. The originality. An effective CFD model has been developed, which allows to calculate the dynamics of the formation of areas of chemical air pollution in the workplace in the event of an emergency leak of a chemically hazardous substance Practical implementation. On the basis of the proposed CFD model, a computer code has been developed that allows determining the dynamics of the formation of areas of contamination in the workplace during the emergency emission of hazardous substances. The model can be used to analyze the risk of toxic damage to personnel in the workplace

Quantifying Simulated Contamination Deposition on Healthcare Providers Using Image Analysis.

Simulation-based research has played an important role in improving care for communicable diseases. Unfortunately, few studies have attempted to quantify the level of contamination in these simulation activities. We aim to assess the feasibility and provide validity evidence for using integrated density values and area of contamination (AOC) to differentiate various levels of simulated contamination. An increasing number of simulated contamination spots using fluorescent marker were applied on a manikin chest to simulate a contaminated healthcare provider. An ultraviolet light was used to illuminate the manikin to highlight the simulated contamination. Images of increasing contamination levels were captured using a camera with different exposure settings. Image processing software was used to measure 2 outcomes: (1) natural logarithm of integrated density; and (2) AOC. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to assess the effect of contamination levels and exposure settings on both outcome measures. A standardized "proof-of-concept" exercise was set up to calibrate and formalize the process for human subjects. A total of 140 images were included in the analyses. Dose-response relationships were observed between contamination levels and both outcome measures. For each increment in the number of contaminated simulation spots (ie, simulated contaminated area increased by 38.5 mm 2 ), on average, log-integrated density increased by 0.009 (95% confidence interval, 0.006-0.012; P < 0.001) and measured AOC increased by 37.8 mm 2 (95% confidence interval, 36.7-38.8 mm 2 ; P < 0.001), which is very close to actual value (38.5 mm 2 ). The "proof-of-concept" demonstration further verified results. Integrated density and AOC measured by image processing can differentiate various levels of simulated, fluorescent contamination. The AOC measured highly agrees with the actual value. This method should be optimized and used in the future research to detect simulated contamination deposited on healthcare providers.

Characterization of area radioactive contamination of near-surface soil at the Sary-Uzen site in the Semipalatinsk test site

The paper provides study of the radioactive contamination of near-surface soil at the Sary-Uzen site in the Semipalatinsk test site (STS). Increased values of natural radionuclides in the studied area were not detected, which indicates the absence of possible geochemical anomalies that could create an elevated radiation background. Radioactive contamination by technogenic radionuclides is caused by two factors. The first factor is fallout of radioisotopes from the atmosphere because of an explosion on September 24, 1951 at the “Experimental field” site. The fallout plume extended from the north-western part of the site to the very south. The range of activity concentration values for 241Am in soil varies from <0.3 Bq/kg to 390 Bq/kg, with an average value of 5 Bq/kg; for 137Cs from <1.1 Bq/kg to 330 Bq/kg, with an average value of 55 Bq/kg. A second, but more significant factor is the fallout of radioisotopes due to underground nuclear tests with radioactive release that took place in boreholes on the site itself. The largest area of contamination (about 8 km) is the fallout from testing borehole No. 101 (241Am to 920 Bq/kg and 137Cs to 12150 Bq/kg).

Influence of flow rate and different size of suction cannulas on splatter contamination in dentistry: results of an exploratory study with a high-volume evacuation system

ObjectivesSOPs recommend high-volume evacuation (HVE) for aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs) in dentistry. Therefore, in the exploratory study, the area of splatter contamination (SCON in %) generated by high-speed tooth preparation (HSP) and air-polishing (APD) was measured when different suction cannulas of 6 mm diameter (saliva ejector (SAE)), 11 mm (HC11), or 16 mm (HC16) were utilized versus no-suction (NS).Materials and methodsEighty tests were performed in a closed darkened room to measure SCON (1m circular around the manikin head (3.14 m2) via plan metrically assessment through fluorescence technique. HSP (handpiece, turbine (Kavo, Germany)) or APD (LM-ProPowerTM (Finland), Airflow®-Prophylaxis-Master (Switzerland)) for 6 min plus 5 s post-treatment were performed either without suction or with low-flow (150 l/min for SAE) or high-flow rate (250 l/min/350 l/min for HC11/HC16) suction. All tests were two-tailed (p≤0.05, Bonferroni corrected for multi-testing).ResultsIrrespective the AGP, SCON was higher for NS (median [25th; 75th percentiles]: 3.4% [2.6; 5.4]) versus high-flow suction (1.9% [1.5; 2.5]) (p=0.002). Low-flow suction (3.5% [2.6; 4.3]) versus NS resulted in slightly lower but not statistically significantly lower SCON (p=1.000) and was less effective than high-flow suction (p=0.003). Lowest contamination values were found with HC16 (1.9% [1.5; 2.5]; p≤0.002), whereat no significant differences were found for HC11 (2.4% [1.7; 3.1]) compared to SAE (p=0.385) or NS (p=0.316).ConclusionsWithin study’s limitations, the lowest splatter contamination values resulted when HC16 were utilized by a high-flow rate of ≥250 l/min.Clinical relevanceIt is strongly recommended to utilize an HVE with suction cannulas of 16mm diameter for a high-flow rate during all AGPs and afterwards also to disinfect all surface of patients or operators contacted.

TRIM4Post-Mining: Transition Information Modelling for Attractive Post-Mining Landscapes—A Conceptual Framework

TRIM4Post-Mining is a H2020/RFCS-funded project that brings together a consortium of European experts from industry and academia to develop an integrated information modelling system. This is designed to support decision making and planning during the transition from coal exploitation to a revitalized post-mining landscape, enabling infrastructure development for agricultural and industrial utilization, and contributing to the recovery of energy and materials from coal mining dumps. The smart system will be founded upon a high-resolution spatiotemporal database, utilizing state-of-the-art multi-scale and multi-sensor monitoring technologies that characterize dynamic processes in coal waste dumps related to timely, dependent deformation and geochemical processes. It will integrate efficient methods for operational and post-mining monitoring, comprehensive spatiotemporal data analytics, feature extraction, and predictive modelling; this will allow for the identification of potential contamination areas and the forecasting of geotechnical risks and ground conditions. For the interactive exploration of alternative land-use planning scenarios—in terms of residual risks, technical feasibility, environmental and social impact, and affordability—up-to-date data and models will be embedded in an interactive planning system based on Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality technology, forming a TRIM—a Transition Information Modelling System. This contribution presents the conceptual approach and main constituents, and describes the state-of-the-art and detailed anticipated methodological approach for each of the constituents. This is supported by the presentation of the first results and a discussion of future work. An anticipated second contribution will focus on the main findings, technology readiness and a discussion of future work.

Soils of the Ribeira Valley (Brazil) as Environmental Protection Barriers: Characterization and Adsorption of Lead and Cadmium

In waste disposal areas, soils can be used as environmental protection barriers to retain potentially toxic metals. Although most studies focus on lateritic soils, it is still of interest to evaluate other soil types, aiming to select the best materials among those available near the contamination area, reducing costs and construction efforts. This paper characterizes and evaluates the behavior of 13 soil materials collected in a region (Ribeira Valley, Brazil) with a history of improper mining waste disposal for the retention of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) and their possible use as environmental protection barriers. All soils were acidic, kaolinitic, with negatively charged particles. Soils were grouped into three classes according to soil properties, such as particle size distribution, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and specific surface area (SSA), using cluster and principal component analysis. The Pb and Cd adsorption capacities ranged from 288 to 479 µg g−1 and 207 to 326 µg g−1, respectively, obtained from batch equilibrium tests. In general, all soils presented suitable characteristics for the retention of Pb and Cd, but four of them (1 to 4) showed the highest adsorption capacities, probably due to their larger SSA, CEC and percentage of fines (clay + silt).