Long-term assessment of remediation treatments applied to an area
affected by a mining spill
Abstract
This study evaluates the effectiveness of remediation treatments in the
long-term (twenty years later) in one of the largest mine spills in the
world, the Aznalcóllar accident. Soil recovery was carried out through
the application of different rates of organic (compost and manure) and
inorganic amendments (materials rich in iron oxides and calcium
carbonate). The different amendment combinations were grouped in four
treatments (T1 to T4) and applied in different sectors depending on the
soil properties and the degree of initial pollution. To assess the
degree of soil recovery, the physicochemical properties, the total,
soluble and bioavailable concentrations of the main pollutants (Pb, As,
Zn and Cu) were determined over time. The applied treatments increased
the pH, CaCO3 and organic carbon of the soils, reduced the EC and
decreased the mobility of the pollutants, indicating that remediation
treatments were efficient in the recovery of soils contaminated by
potentially harmful elements. However, twenty years after the accident,
total concentrations of Pb and As still exceed the intervention levels
of the current regulations in certain areas. These areas are located in
the sectors closest to the mine and where treatments T1 and T2 were
applied; in these cases, the dose of organic amendment, materials rich
in iron oxides and calcium carbonate were not effective enough, so the
application of new treatments is recommended to complete the full
recovery of the area.