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SURFACE AND GROUNDWATER POLLUTION FROM OLD URANIUM MINING SITE AND HYDRO-CHEMICAL INDICATORS FOR ITS EXPRESS ASSESSMENT - A CASE STUDY
Abstract
Old closed uranium mines can be a significant source of environmental pollution and hazards to human health. The problem could become more severe in time due to erosion if the restoration measures are not properly maintained. There are many uranium mines in Bulgaria that, even closed in the 1990s, could be a pollution source for surface and groundwater in their region. Through hydraulic connections, they can contaminate the rivers passing nearby. The aim of the present work was to check the hypothesis of a possible water pollution caused by a uranium mine closed and reclaimed about 20 years ago, based on the example of Eleshnitsa mine. Extensive literature survey was carried out on the publications (papers, dissertations, reports in the recent 20-25 years) presenting mainly data on parameters of surface and groundwater in the region, precipitation, surface - groundwater connection but also - mine restoration. The data were systematized, combined with our in situ measurements, sampling and analyses, and statistically processed. It has been found that sulfates (SO42-) and manganese (Mn) are the main pollutants both in surface and groundwater, besides uranium (U) and total ? radioactivity. The good news are that generally in the recent years concentrations of SO42- and Mn do not show a trend to an increase. Data processing exhibited existence of a significant correlation between water conductivity (EC) and SO42- in the studied region - both for surface and groundwater. Increased EC is also an indicative parameter for Neogene groundwater pollution with U. Elevated concentrations of SO42- are generally suggestive for increased Mn concentrations. Thus the increased values of EC can be used for an express assessment of possible water pollution with SO42-, Mn (and U for deep groundwater) caused by mining activity in the respective area. In addition, SO42-, as a mobile and characteristic pollutant, can be used to model the contamination spreading
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