Mining Impacts and their Environmental Problems

This book entitled “Mining Impacts and their Environmental Problems” presents a comprehensive view on various mining activities and a wide spectrum of environmental challenges associated with it. Case studies presented across global south such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, are  the first of its kind which presents a holistic and deep insight (into instead of about?) about this pressing environmental issue. In this book, thirteen chapters present various issues ranging from gold, silver, chromium, lead, coal mining, and its impacts on ambient environmental (soil, water, biodiversity) degradation and ultimately on(healthy living environment instead of human health living? ) human health living in the surrounding area. For this purpose, (different methodologies have been used) they have used different methodologies( for example instead of like using) like using (a) water quality index, hydro-chemical characterization, numerical simulation to identify the extent of pollution caused(by instead of due to?) due to mining activities. Later it (the book) advocates the usage of advance mining technologies such as advanced oxidation processes, decarbonization technologies and a  biotechnological approach for the treatment of wastewater being generated due to mining activities or minimizing overall environmental degradation. Finally, it emphasizes on assessing risk zone delineation, vulnerability analysis using cutting edge tools like numerical simulation, GIS and remote sensing, which will help designing robust management plans and sustainable transitions, critically helpful for policy makers or decision makers.

Dr. José Marrugo-Negrete is Director & Senior Professor in Instituto Regional del Agua (IRAGUA) and Applied Chemical and Environmental Water Research Group, as well as Regional Director of SUE Caribbean master degree program in Environmental Sciences of Universidad de Córdoba, Colombia. He is a Senior Researcher recognized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Colombia. His areas of interest include the dynamics of heavy metals in the environment, impact on human health and environmental remediation. His research experience is based on studies of environmental contamination mainly by heavy metals and pesticides, and the risks to human health associated with exposure to them. He has also developed research on methods of elimination and reduction of environmental pollutants, with the aim of recovering contaminated ecosystems affected by mining. He has made significant contribution to environmental and mining policy development in Colombia.

Dr. M.P. Jonathan is Professor in Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo (CIIEMAD), Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) in Mexico City and is a member of National Researchers Scheme - Level 3. His research includes Environmental Geochemistry focussing on metal cycling in water, sediment, air in continental/ coastal environments and paleotsunami studies. A worldwide program called “Blue Flag Beaches: Vision-2030” dealing with creation of baseline data set on geochemical composition/enrichment of elements in tourist beaches is currently ongoing. Studies on mega and microplastic in beaches, coralline regions, commercial fishes, crocodiles, sea lions have been initiated. He is serving in the Editorial Board of Environmental Pollution (Elsevier Publs.,), Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Journals (Springer-Verlag) and has published over 150 research articles.

Dr. AL. Ramanathan is a professor in School of Environmental Sciences (SES) at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. He was in top 2% in the field of Environmental Sciences in the world list from 2019. He has published over 250 research papers and his research includes river sciences, groundwater hydrology, mangrove ecosystem biogeochemistry, and Arctic, Antarctic and Himalayan research. He has supervised 34 PhD; ~100 MPhil and Master Dissertation; ~20 postdoctoral fellows. He has served as Dean, SES at JNU. He was arctic group leader for three years and participated in more than 30 national/international projects. He has been awarded the INSA teachers, Young Scientist Award – DST, Government of India; Young Scientist Award Lineaus-Palme Fellow, FORMAS Fellow – Sweden; SIDA Fellow – Sweden; CIFIPRA Fellow - France.

Dr. S. Chidambaram is a Senior Research Scientist at Water Research Centre, Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait. He is gold medalist in undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. He served as Professor & Head from 2015-17 with 19 years of research experience and graduated 18 postgraduate, 18 doctorate students. He published around 250 research articles and 10 books. He served as guest editor for VSI in different journals and as Associate Editor in Kuwait Journal of Science. Computer programs WATCLAST and CHIDAM were developed for Hydrogeochemical studies. He received the best paper award in Applied Water Sciences journal in 2013 and Hydrogeology/Environmental Geochemistry in 2016 by Indian Society of Applied Geochemists. He has undertaken training in IAEA programs and as expert for various missions.

Dr. R. Nagarajan is Professor in Department of Applied Geology, Dean R&D and Director of Curtin Malaysia Research Institute. His research interests and capabilities include applications of geochemistry to various evolution of sedimentary systems, petroleum geology, environmental geosciences and biogeochemistry. He has published over 100 indexed publications (Journal papers, conference proceedings and book chapters). His current research focusses on geochemistry of Oligocene to Neogene sedimentary/meta-sedimentary rocks and recent sediments of Borneo. He has been awarded the top most prestigious award called “John Curtin Distinguished Professor” from Curtin University Australia for significant and sustained contribution in the University at national/international reputation and distinguished record service to professional and public life. He has more than 10 years leadership experience in the above administrative positions with Curtin University.

Dr. Pankaj Kumar is currently working as research manager in the field of water resources and climate change adaptation at Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan. In addition, he is also working as head of IPBES-TSU on Scenarios and Models. Prior to this, he worked in United Nations University, Tokyo; for more than three years. His research work primarily focuses on Socio-hydrology, Water security, Hydrological simulation, Scenario analysis, Water-health-food-energy nexus. He is also engaged in teaching, focussing on assessing the impact of global climate change on water resources and weighing on adaptation and mitigation options to offer scientific solutions. He has work experience with different global assessments like IPCC AR5, AR6; IPBES NEXUS assessment, GEO7 etc., as Chapter Scientist and lead authors respectively.