Human health risks associated with urban soils in mining areas

We thank Ms. I. Martinez Segura and Mr. M.J. Roman Alpiste for their assistance in laboratory work. Additionally, Dr. A. Parviainen acknowledges the `Juan de la Cierva-Incorporaci ' on' fellowship (grant number IJCI-2016-27412); and Dr. J.P. Arrebola acknowledges the Ram ' on y Cajal program (grant number RYC-2016-20155) from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. Research performed at the UGR was supported by the Project RTI 2018-094327-B-I00, funded by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) and the European Social Fund (ESF) of the European Commission (co)funded the fellowships, research and infrastructure endeavors involved in this research performed at the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (UGR-CSIC).We studied the chemical composition of As and Pb in total (<2 mm) and fine fractions (<50 μm) of 52 urban soil samples from Minas de Riotinto (mining area) and Aracena (non-exposed area) in SW Spain. In addition to a soil phytotoxicity bioassay using Lactuca Sativa L., we modelled and performed carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk assessment, later comparing our data with relative cancer mortality rates reported at the municipal level. This study demonstrates that mineralized bedrock and natural soil-forming processes affect the geochemistry of natural (in-situ) urban soils, which in many cases surpass the regulatory levels for As (36 mg/kg) and Pb (275 mg/kg). Fine fractions of in-situ and mixed urban soils —susceptible of inhalation— are significantly enriched in As and Pb with respect to fine fractions of aggregate materials (ex-situ soils of chalky sands and gravel) in Minas de Riotinto. The soils in Minas de Riotinto are significantly enriched in As (total and fine fractions) and Pb (total fraction) with respect to Aracena. Despite elevated bulk concentrations of As and Pb, only one in-situ sample exhibits phytotoxic effects of the soil-water extracts on Lactuca Sativa L. seeds. Health risk assessment of these towns as exposure areas indicates that the soils of Minas de Riotinto are indeed a health risk to the residents, whereas there is no potential risk in Aracena. The reported relative mortality rates in Minas de Riotinto show a greater mortality of carcinogenic tumors potentially related to As and Pb exposure, including lung cancer. Both soil type and use must be considered when administrators or policy-makers evaluate health risks involved in urbanistic decision-making. To minimize exposure risk and adverse health outcomes, we recommend that insitu soils surpassing regulatory levels for As and Pb in public playgrounds and passing areas should be covered with aggregate materials.'Juan de la Cierva-Incorporacion' fellowship IJCI-2016-27412Spanish Government RYC-2016-20155Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities RTI 2018-094327-B-I00European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) of the European Commission European Social Fund (ESF) of the European Commissio

Effect of parent material and atmospheric deposition on the potential pollution of urban soils close to mining areas

A. Vázquez-Arias was awarded a grant by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities within the Programa de Formación de Profesorado Universitario (FPU19/01989). Dr. A. Parviainen's fellowship ‘Juan de la Cierva –Incorporación’ (IJCI-2016-27412) was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. The research performed at the UGR was also supported by the Research Project RTI 2018-094327-B-I00 (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities). Fellowships, research, and infrastructure grants supporting this research performed at the Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (UGR-CSIC) have been (co)funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERFD) and the European Social Fund (ESF) of the European CommissionThe aim of this study is to analyse the concentration and determine the sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban soils under the influence of mining activities. To this end, topsoil samples were collected in the public parks and green areas in Minas de Riotinto (a town next to one of the largest open pit mines in the world) and Aracena (a nearby town outside the area of influence of the mine). After determining the concentrations of elements of interest single bondCr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb— the values were compared in terms of the soil location and origin (in-situ or ex-situ), and with the background and regulatory levels for the region. The elemental concentrations in the fine fraction of the soils (particles <50 μm) were also measured. The concentrations of some PTEs (Cu, As and Pb), also found in the dust from nearby mines, were higher in the in-situ soils of Minas de Riotinto than in those of Aracena. The concentrations of PTEs in ex-situ soils of both towns were much lower than in in-situ soils, and similar between the two locations, revealing the influence of the parent material as a primary source of PTEs. However, the concentrations of As and Cu in the ex-situ soils of Minas de Riotinto were significantly higher than in those of Aracena, while a significant increase of these elements in the fine fraction was seen for both in-situ and ex-situ soils. These two elements are directly related to mining activity, implying that atmospheric deposition of dust from the mines contributes to the greater concentration of PTEs in the soils of Minas de Riotinto. Because these sources lead to soils with potentially dangerous concentrations of pollutants, they should be further studied in relation to their long-term influence on human healthS

Mineralogical association and geochemistry of potentially toxic elements in urban soils under the influence of mining

Polluted soil is an important source of exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) for humans, especially in urban areas. We studied the fate of PTEs in the total (<2 mm) and fine (<50 μm) fractions of urban soils in playgrounds, passing areas, and vacant lots of the historic mining village of Minas de Riotinto in SW Spain. The mineralogical and chemical observations included analysis by scanning electron microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis of Al, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, As, Cd, Ba, Tl, and Pb after acid digestion by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry and Sb by X-ray fluorescence. The total and fine fractions of natural and mixed (consisting of natural soils and aggregate pavements) urban soils have significantly higher concentrations of sulfide-associated PTEs (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Sb, and Pb) and Ba in comparison to the aggregate pavements. Most of the natural and mixed urban soils surpass the regulatory levels set by the regional Government for As and Pb to declare a soil as contaminated. This work highlights the mineralogical source of PTEs in the urban soils. Primary geogenic sulfide minerals are prone to oxidation promoting dissolution of PTEs and acid generation in the future. Additionally, for the first time, we have described arsenian plumbojarosite and beudantite in urban soils which are abundant secondary phases under the circumneutral pH conditions, effectively retaining As and Pb. Inhalable small PTE-rich particles (<10 μm) are present in many soils in playgrounds and garden areas potentially posing health risk to residents upon dusting and resuspension in the air

Effect of parent material and atmospheric deposition on the potential pollution of urban soils close to mining areas

The aim of this study is to analyse the concentration and determine the sources of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in urban soils under the influence of mining activities. To this end, topsoil samples were collected in the public parks and green areas in Minas de Riotinto (a town next to one of the largest open pit mines in the world) and Aracena (a nearby town outside the area of influence of the mine). After determining the concentrations of elements of interest –Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb— the values were compared in terms of the soil location and origin (in-situ or ex-situ), and with the background and regulatory levels for the region. The elemental concentrations in the fine fraction of the soils (particles <50 μm) were also measured. The concentrations of some PTEs (Cu, As and Pb), also found in the dust from nearby mines, were higher in the in-situ soils of Minas de Riotinto than in those of Aracena. The concentrations of PTEs in ex-situ soils of both towns were much lower than in in-situ soils, and similar between the two locations, revealing the influence of the parent material as a primary source of PTEs. However, the concentrations of As and Cu in the ex-situ soils of Minas de Riotinto were significantly higher than in those of Aracena, while a significant increase of these elements in the fine fraction was seen for both insitu and ex-situ soils. These two elements are directly related to mining activity, implying that atmospheric deposition of dust from the mines contributes to the greater concentration of PTEs in the soils of Minas de Riotinto. Because these sources lead to soils with potentially dangerous concentrations of pollutants, they should be further studied in relation to their long-term influence on human health.Spanish Government IJCI-2016-27412 RTI 2018-094327-B-I00Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities - European Regional Development Fund (ERFD)European Social Fund (ESF) of the European Commission European Commission FPU19/0198

Human health risks associated with urban soils in mining areas

samples from Minas de Riotinto (mining area) and Aracena (non-exposed area) in SW Spain. In addition to a soil phytotoxicity bioassay using Lactuca Sativa L., we modelled and performed carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human health risk assessment, later comparing our data with relative cancer mortality rates reported at the municipal level. This study demonstrates that mineralized bedrock and natural soil-forming processes affect the geochemistry of natural (in-situ) urban soils, which in many cases surpass the regulatory levels for As (36 mg/kg) and Pb (275 mg/kg). Fine fractions of in-situ and mixed urban soils —susceptible of inhalation— are significantly enriched in As and Pb with respect to fine fractions of aggregate materials (ex-situ soils of chalky sands and gravel) in Minas de Riotinto. The soils in Minas de Riotinto are significantly enriched in As (total and fine fractions) and Pb (total fraction) with respect to Aracena. Despite elevated bulk concentrations of As and Pb, only one in-situ sample exhibits phytotoxic effects of the soil-water extracts on Lactuca Sativa L. seeds. Health risk assessment of these towns as exposure areas indicates that the soils of Minas de Riotinto are indeed a health risk to the residents, whereas there is no potential risk in Aracena. The reported relative mortality rates in Minas de Riotinto show a greater mortality of carcinogenic tumors potentially related to As and Pb exposure, including lung cancer. Both soil type and use must be considered when administrators or policy-makers evaluate health risks involved in urbanistic decision-making. To minimize exposure risk and adverse health outcomes, we recommend that insitu soils surpassing regulatory levels for As and Pb in public playgrounds and passing areas should be covered with aggregate materials

Thallium distribution in an estuary affected by acid mine drainage (AMD): The Ría de Huelva estuary (SW Spain)

Supplementary data to this article can be found online at https://doi. org/10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119448.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under the research projects CAPOTE (MINECO; CGL 2017-86050-R) and TRAMPA (MINECO; PID 2020-119196RB-C21). C.R C´anovas thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference RYC 2019- 027949-I. M.D. Basallote thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference IJC 2018-035056-I. A. Parviainen thanks the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference IJCI-2016-27412. The comments and helpful criticisms of three anonymous reviewers and the support of Professor Wen-Xiong Wang (Editor) have considerably improved the original manuscript and are also gratefully acknowledged. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBUA.This study investigates the behavior of Tl in the Ría de Huelva (SW Spain), one of the most metal polluted estuaries in the world. Dissolved Tl concentration displayed a general decrease across the estuary during the dry season (DS); from 5.0 to 0.34 μg/L in the Tinto and Odiel estuaries, respectively, to 0.02 μg/L in the channel where the rivers join. A slighter decrease was observed during the wet season (WS) (from 0.72 to 0.14 μg/L to 0.02 μg/L) due to the dilution effect of rainfalls in the watersheds. These values are 3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported in other estuaries worldwide. Different increases in Tl concentrations with salinity were observed in the upper reaches of the Tinto and Odiel estuaries, attributed to desorption processes from particulate matter. Chemical and mineralogical evidences of particulate matter, point at Fe minerals (i.e., jarosite) as main drivers of Tl particulate transport in the estuary. Unlike other estuaries worldwide, where a fast sorption process onto particulate matter commonly takes place, Tl is mainly desorbed from particulate matter in the Tinto and Odiel estuaries. Thus, Tl may be released back from jarositic particulate matter across the salinity gradient due to the increasing proportion of unreactive TlCl0 and K+ ions, which compete for adsorption sites with Tl+ at increasing salinities. A mixing model based on conservative elements revealed a 6-fold increase in Tl concentrations related to desorption processes. However, mining spills like that occurred in May 2017 may contribute to enhance dissolved and particulate Tl concentrations in the estuary as well as to magnify these desorption processes (up to around 1100% of Tl release), highlighting the impact of the mine spill on the remobilization of Tl from the suspended matter to the water column.CAPOTE (MINECO; CGL 2017-86050-R)TRAMPA (MINECO; PID 2020-119196RB-C21)Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference RYC 2019- 027949-I.Postdoctoral Fellowship granted under application reference IJCI-2016-27412Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBU

Effects of estuarine water mixing on the mobility of trace elements in acid mine drainage leachates

This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation under the research project TRAMPA (PID2020-119196RB- C21). C.R. C´anovas, A. Parviainen and M.D. Basallote also acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Postdoctoral Fellowships granted under application references RYC2019-027949-I, IJCI-2016-27412 and IJC2018-035056-I, respectively. We would also like to thank Dr. Geoff MacFarlane for the editorial handling and two anonymous reviewers for the support and comments that significantly improved the quality of the original paper. Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva/CBUA.This research reports the effects of pH increase on contaminant mobility in acid mine drainage from the Iberian Pyrite Belt by seawater mixing in the laboratory, simulating the processes occurring in the Estuary of Huelva (SW Iberian Peninsula). Concentrations of Al, Fe, As, Cu and REY in mixing solutions significantly decreased with increasing pH. Schwertmannite precipitation at pH 2.5–4.0 led to the total removal of Fe(III) and As. Subsequently, iron-depleted solutions began to be controlled by precipitation of basaluminite at pH 4.5–6.0, which acted as a sink for Al, Cu and REY. Nevertheless, as the pH rises, schwertmannite becomes unstable and releases back to solution the previously retained As. Moreover, other elements (S, Zn, Cd, Ni and Co) behaved conservatively in mixing solutions with no participation in precipitation processes. Some toxic elements finally end up to the Atlantic Ocean contributing to the total pollutant loads and environmentally threatening the coastal areas

Socio-Demographic Health Determinants Are Associated with Poor Prognosis in Spanish Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19

Introduction Social vulnerability is a known determinant of health in respiratory diseases. Our aim was to identify whether there are socio-demographic factors among COVID-19 patients hospitalized in Spain and their potential impact on health outcomes during the hospitalization. Methods A multicentric retrospective case series study based on administrative databases that included all COVID-19 cases admitted in 19 Spanish hospitals from 1 March to 15 April 2020. Socio-demographic data were collected. Outcomes were critical care admission and in-hospital mortality. Results We included 10,110 COVID-19 patients admitted to 18 Spanish hospitals (median age 68 (IQR 54–80) years old; 44.5% female; 14.8% were not born in Spain). Among these, 779 (7.7%) cases were admitted to critical care units and 1678 (16.6%) patients died during the hospitalization. Age, male gender, being immigrant, and low hospital saturation were independently associated with being admitted to an intensive care unit. Age, male gender, being immigrant, percentile of average per capita income, and hospital experience were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. Conclusions Social determinants such as residence in low-income areas and being born in Latin American countries were associated with increased odds of being admitted to an intensive care unit and of in-hospital mortality. There was considerable variation in outcomes between different Spanish centers.JPA is under contract within the Ramón y Cajal Program (RYC-2016-20155, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spain). Investigators of Spanish Social-Environmental COVID-19 Register: Steering Committee: F. Javier Martín-Sánchez, Adrián Valls Carbó, Carmen Martínez Valero, Juan de D. Miranda, Juan Pedro Arrebola, Marta Esteban López, Annika Parviainen, Òscar Miró, Pere Llorens, Sònia Jiménez, Pascual Piñera, Guillermo Burillo, Alfonso Martín, Jorge García Lamberechts, Javier Jacob, Aitor Alquézar, Juan González del Castillo, Amanda López Picado and Iván Núñez. Participating centers: Oscar Miró y Sonia Jimenez. Hospital Clinic de Barcelona. José María Ferreras Amez. Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa. Rafael Rubio Díaz. Complejo Hospitalario de Toledo. Julio Javier Gamazo del Rio. Hospital Universitario de Galdakao. Héctor Alonso. Hospital Universitario Miguel de Valdecilla. Pablo Herrero. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Noemí Ruiz de Lobera. Hospital San Pedro de Logroño. Carlos Ibero. Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra. Plácido Mayan. Hospital Clínico Universitario de Santiago. Rosario Peinado. Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Badajoz. Carmen Navarro Bustos. Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Macarena. Jesús Álvarez Manzanares. Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega. Francisco Román. Hospital Universitario General de Alicante. Pascual Piñera. Hospital Universitario Reina Sofia de Murcia. Guillermo Burillo. Hospital Universitario de Canarias de Tenerife. Javier Jacob. Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge. Carlos Bibiano. Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor.Peer reviewe

Neuvontapiste Ne-Rån maahanmuuttaja-asiakkaat : kartoitus maahanmuuttajamiesten- ja naisten asioinneista vuosilta 2008 ja 2009

Opinnäytetyössämme on tarkoituksena esitellä lukijalle muun muassa ohjaus-ja neuvontatyö maahanmuuttaja neuvontapiste Ne-Rån asiakkaana ja maahanmuuttajille suunnatut palvelut Helsingissä. Tavoitteenamme on asiakasseurantalomakkeiden avulla selvittää, missä asioissa maahanmuuttajat asioivat Ne-Råssa vuosina 2008 ja 2009 sekä kuinka maahanmuuttajamiesten ja - naisten asiointien syyt poikkeavat toisistaan. Lisäksi selvitämme, eroaako maahanmuuttajien ja valtaväestön asiointien syyt toisistaan. Opinnäytetyömme on luonteeltaan määrällinen, ja aineistona olemme käyttäneet Ne-Rån asiakasseuran-talomakkeita, joita oli 1 067 kappaletta. Maahanmuuttaja-asiakkaista oli täytetty 271 lomaketta.Tutkimuksemme mukaan vuonna 2008 maahanmuuttajanaiset ja –miehet asioivat Ne-Råssa ensisijaisesti hakeakseen neuvontaa sosiaalipalveluissa ja vähiten hakeakseen asiointitukea. Maahanmuuttajanaisten ja – miesten asiakaskäyntien syissä on nähtävissä yhdenmukaisuutta. Asiakaskäynneillä puheeksi otetuissa teemoissa sen sijaan on sukupuolten välillä selkeitä eroja. Teemat, jotka on useimmiten otettu puheeksi maahanmuuttajamiesten käynneillä, ovat asuminen, työ ja terveydentilaan liittyvä huoli. Maahanmuuttajanaiset ovat eniten ottaneet puheeksi teemat työ, huoli toimeentulosta sekä opiskelu. Vuonna 2009 maahanmuuttajamiehet tarvitsivat edelleen eniten neuvontaa sosiaalipalveluissa, kun taas naiset tarvitsivat eniten apua lomakkeiden täyttämisessä. Vuonna 2009 asiakaskäynneillä esille otetuissa teemoissa miesten ja naisten välillä ei ollut yhtä huomattavaa eroa kuin vuonna 2008. Miehet ja naiset ovat molemmat asioineet eniten teemoissa asuminen, työ ja huoli toimeentulosta. Tutkimuksestamme selviää, että Neuvontapiste Ne-Rån maahanmuuttaja-asiakkaiden määrä on kaksinkertaistunut vuodesta 2008 vuoteen 2009, mikä osaltaan kertoo ohjaus- ja neuvontapalvelujen tarpeellisuudesta sekä Ne-Rån toiminnan näkyvyyden lisääntymisestä. Molempina vuosina eniten puheeksi otettuja teemoja ovat työ ja asuminen, mistä voimme päätellä, että maahanmuuttajien asumis- ja työllisyystilanne Helsingissä ei ole julkisen sektorin toimesta näinä vuosina parantunut. Maahanmuuttajanaiset asioivat enimmäkseen taloudellisissa asioissa, kun taas maahanmuuttajamiehet ovat tämän lisäksi huolissaan myös terveydentilastaan. Maahanmuuttajanaisille kohdennetut erilaiset kurssit ja keskustelu mahdollisuudet, joissa he voivat tuoda ilmi muutkin kuin taloudelliset huolenaiheensa selittävät osaltaan sitä, miksi he eivät tarvitse niitä palveluita Ne-Råsta. Maahanmuuttaja-asiakkaiden ollessa viime vuosina jo lähes kolmannes Ne-Rån käyttäjistä, on Ne-Rån työn kehittäminen ja henkilöstön monikulttuuritietouden lisääminen perusteltua.The purpose of this study was to introduce guidance and counselling work, immigrant as a client of Ne-Rå and the services allocated to immigrants in Helsinki. Our aim was to analyse this by means of forms filled in by clients at Ne-Rå. We wanted to know which were the reasons why immigrants used services of Ne-Rå and if there was any difference between the years of 2008 and 2009. We also analysed if there was any difference between immigrant women´s and immigrant men´s reasons for service use. Futhermore, we analysed if immigrants’ and mainstream population´s reasons for service use were different. Our study was statistical and the material was based on forms which were used to follow the Ne-Rå client´s situations. There were 1 067 pieces of follow-up forms and 271 of them were immigrants. The analysis part of this study was conducted in the summer of 2010. The results of our study showed that there were no significant differences in reasons why immigrants used services of Ne-Rå between the years of 2008 and 2009. Services of Ne-Rå were used with similar reasons both years. The service which was most used in Ne-Rå in 2008 was counselling on social services. Themes which were most brought up at the visits of immigrant men, were housing, work and concern for health. Instead, immigrant women mostly brought up themes which were work, concern for livelihood and studying. In the year of 2009 both immigrant men and women mentioned themes like housing, work and concern for livelihood. The study shows that the number of immigrant clients of Ne-Rå has doubled in the past few years. This indicates the importance of guidance and counselling work in Ne-Rå. Themes which were mentioned most in both years were housing and work. This may indicate that services of the public sector in Helsinki have not improved. When immigrant women were mostly concerned about their financial situations, immigrant men were also concerned about their health. We can assume that the courses which are allocated only to immigrant women are important for them as they can there bring up their concerns, for instance health. Improving the work of Ne-Rå and its employees´ multicultural awareness is important because immigrant clients are already a third of Ne-Rå’s clientele

Sulfidien hapettuminen ja pidättymismekanismit happamien kaivosvesien kontrolloijana suljetuilla rikastushiekka-alueilla

Environmental hazards derived from mining have been a major concern worldwide in the past years. Understanding of the consequences of malpractice in waste management and the lack of aftercare is crucial to the sustainability of the future mining industry. Mineralogical and geochemical studies are key to predicting the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) and to evaluating the stability of a tailings system at an advanced stage of weathering. Site-specific data also assist in selecting the remediation scheme for decommissioned tailings. This thesis examines the evolution of sulfide weathering and the natural attenuation mechanisms controlling AMD at the Haveri Au-Cu and Ylöjärvi Cu-W-As mine tailings (SW Finland). Environmental investigations of this scale at decommissioned tailings have not been performed in Finland before. A combination of traditional mineralogical methods (optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction), advanced synchrotron-based techniques, as well as geophysical and geochemical studies assessing elemental dispersion in the tailings (electric resistivity tomography, sequential extraction of solid tailings and water chemistry) provided a comprehensive data set and proved essential for evaluating the retention capacity and stability of secondary Fe(III) minerals in vadose tailings. Further, a study on the geochemistry of lake sediment records from the catchment receiving mine effluents allowed assessment of the long-term impact of AMD. Half a century after mine closure, the shallow tailings at Haveri and Ylöjärvi had undergone extensive sulfide weathering, mobilizing potentially toxic elements, e.g. As, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn. Lake sediment data showed that elemental transport had decreased from the contamination peaks to values slightly above the background level. However, at Ylöjärvi high As contents were recorded in pore and groundwater samples. Fe(III) minerals played an important role as a sink for As and divalent cations through adsorption (minor component) and co-precipitation, and cemented layers with accumulations of these phases, detected at both sites, contributed to the natural attenuation processes. Jarosite and goethite trapped As, Cu and SO4 at the low pH (2.5-3.5) in the Haveri tailings, whereas arsenical ferrihydrite, hydrous ferric arsenate, scorodite, and kankite retained As, Co, and Cu at the near neutral pH (4.9-8.9) at Ylöjärvi. The Fe(III) minerals proved important for As retention in altered samples, where the As content in the secondary minerals' fractions approached 90-100% of the total in sequential extractions. The results indicated that mine waters at the sites deteriorate the water quality at present despite the attenuating processes and also give indication of adequate remediation techniques.Kaivosalueiden ympäristöongelmat ovat herättäneet paljon huomiota viime vuosina. Kaivannaisteollisuuden kestävän kehityksen turvaamiseksi ja aikaisempien virheiden välttämiseksi on selvitettävä, millaisia seurauksia on huonosta kaivosjätteiden huollosta ja jälkihuollon laiminlyönnistä. Mineralogiset ja geokemialliset tutkimusmenetelmät ovat avainasemeassa happamien kaivosvesien ennakoimisessa, rapautuneen rikastushiekkasysteemin stabiiliuden arvioimisessa, sekä ympäristöriskinarvioinnissa ja kunnostusmenetelmien valinnassa suljetuilla kaivosalueilla. Väitöskirjatutkimuksessa selvitetään mineralogian ja geokemian menetelmin sulfidien rapautumisen ja haitta-aineiden luontaisten pidättymismekanismien vaikutusta happamien kaivosvesien laatuun Haverin Au-Cu ja Ylöjärven Cu-W-As kaivosten rikastushiekka-alueilla Lounais-Suomessa. Tutkimus on laajin tähän mennessä Suomessa tehty kaivosympäristöselvitys. Tutkimuksessa käytettiin useita eri menetelmiä: mineralogiset (optinen mikroskopia, mikroanalytiikka ja röntgendifraktio), synkrotroniin perustuvat menetelmät, sekä geofysikaaliset ja geokemialliset menetelmät tuottivat monipuolisen tutkimusaineiston. Tutkimuksessa arvioidaan sekundääristen Fe(III)-mineraalien pidättämiskapasiteettia ja stabiilisuutta rikastushiekassa pohjaveden pinnan yläpuolella. Lisäksi valuma-alueiden järvisedimenttien geokemia mahdollisti kaivosvesien pitkäaikaisten vaikutusten tutkimisen. Haverin ja Ylöjärven rikastushiekka-alueiden pintakerrosten rapautuminen viiden vuosikymmenen aikana kaivostoiminnan loputtua on aiheuttanut haitta-aineiden (esim. As, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn) liukenemista. Järvisedimenttitulokset osoittivat, että kuormitus on jo laskenut korkeimmista arvoista vähän taustapitoisuuksia korkeampiin lukemiin. Fe(III)-mineraalit pidättivät adsorboimalla ja kerasaostamalla huomattavia määriä As ja metalleja. Sementoituneet kerrokset edistävät haitta-aineiden luonnollisten pidättymismekanismien tehoa. Jarosiitti ja götiitti pidättävät haitta-aineita kuten As, Cu, ja SO4 happamissa oloissa (pH 2.5-3.5) Haverissa, ja As-pitoinen ferrihydriitti, skorodiitti ja kankiitti pidättivät mm. As, Cu ja Co lähellä neutraalia pH:ta (4.9-8.9). Erityisesti arseenin pidättyminen rapautuneissa näytteissä osoittautui tärkeäksi, missä As-pitoisuus sekundääristen mineraalien perättäisuuttofraktiossa oli jopa 90-100% As kokonaismäärästä. Tulokset osoittivat, että tutkimusalueilla kaivosvedet heikentävät veden laatua edelleen, vaikka luontaiset pidätysmekanismit lieventävät ympäristövaikutuksia. Tulokset antavat myös viitteitä soveltuvista kohdekohtaisista kunnostusmenetelmistä