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One of the main worldwide issues today is represented by the need of protecting the environment and human health. This requires prevention and monitoring the pollutant contamination of the environment and food products. Toxic heavy metals may accumulate in plant tissues and inhibit most physiological processes at all metabolism levels. They inhibit growth, photosynthesis, water uptake and nitrate assimilation. Romania is a resourceful country and a number of energy and mineral resources can be found on its territo...

Rare Earth Elements (REE) are crucial for modern technologies and renewable energy application, while there is a high risk of supply. REEs have been identified as critical raw materials for the development and the European Union economy competitiveness. Currently, China dominates the market of REEs production and refining. However, there are several REE containing materials not being properly addressed. The ENVIREE project, funded by the ERA-MIN programme, is focused on REE supply for Europe, by addressing the exp...

This paper reviews the main transborder issues on the territory of Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR) of principally associated with natural and human induced hazards involving waste contamination from extractive industries. The Soviet Union included 15 states that had unified political and economic system. In 1991, after the collapse of the USSR, on the territory of the previously united country, were formed 15 independent states, respectively new boundaries were shaped, and existing environmental p...

Extraction of rare earth elements (REE) from mining wastes may change their physical and chemical properties thus affecting their usefulness for reclamation. The aim of this work was to assess the usefulness for reclamation of mine wastes used for REE production. Samples of mine wastes after an experimental benefication process (n=6) were delivered from Kankberg mine, Sweden. The samples were measured for organic matter (OM) content, specific gravity, maximum water holding capacity (WHC), texture, pH and electric ...

The areas of gold mining in Kemerovo region in Russia are highly transformed by technogenic processes connected both with the ore extraction and processing (dressing). In Kemerovo region there are two former gold mining areas characterizing by strongly altered landscape and pollution by toxic chemical elements. There are two types of waste storage in these territories ? waste dumps and tailings. The waste storage sites have definite impact on the surrounding environment leading to the changes in geochemical featur...

According Act No. 157/2009 Coll., on mining waste management, the Czech Geological Survey carried out a project of the Operational Programme Environment in 2010?2012. The project was entitled ?Investigation of closed and abandoned mining waste facilities posing a serious threat to the environment or human health?. The aim was to create an inventory of hazardous mining waste facilities and to develop a methodology for their assessment. In the Czech Republic, 300 potentially hazardous mining waste sites were identif...