School of Environmental Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Cordially invites you to a talk on
Management and remediation of rivers contaminated by metal mining
Prof. Mark G. Macklin
Head of the School of Geography and Director of Lincoln Centre for Water and Planetary Health, University of Lincoln, UK
26thNovember 2018 (Monday)3:00pm
Amrita Devi Bishnoi Seminar Hall, SES.
Abstract:As the result of current and historical metal mining, river channels and floodplains in many parts of the world have become contaminated by metal-rich waste in concentrations that may pose a hazard to human livelihoods and sustainable development. Environmental and human health impacts commonly arise because of the prolonged residence time of heavy metals in river sediments and alluvial soils and their bioaccumulatory nature in plants and animals. This lecture considers how an understanding of the processes of sediment-associated metal dispersion in rivers, and the space and timescales over which they operate, can be used in a practical way to help river basin managers more effectively control and remediate catchments affected by current and historical metal mining. A geomorphological approach to the management and remediation of rivers contaminated by metals is outlined in the context of present rapid climate change. Four emerging research themes are highlighted and critically reviewed. These are: (1) response and recovery of river systems following the failures of major tailings dams; (2) effects of increased flooding on river contamination and the sustainable use of floodplains; (3) geomorphological-based assessment and management of metal mining contaminated river basins; and (4) big data approaches to evaluating the global impacts of mining on planetary health.