188
10.2.4 Economic, Environmental, and Social Issues
In general, mining has several negative environmental, economic, and social impacts
associated with the extraction and processing of ores. The removal of plant covers
is one of the first stages of ore extraction, when environmental impacts start, followed by subsequent impacts linked with operations, such as the production of dust,
generation of a large amount of solid waste (tailings), and liquid effluents. For
example, data published by Tunsu et al. (2015) indicate that each ton of rare earth
elements produced generated approximately 8.5 kg of fluoride (F) and 13 kg of dust.
In order to obtain concentrated rare earth elements material, 75 m
3
of acid effluents
and between 9.6 m
3
and 12 m
3
of gas are produced. This gas includes sulfuric acid
and sulfur dioxide. Approximately 1 ton of radioactive waste is also generated.
Several mineral reserves are located in forests, in areas that are rich in biodiversity, and regions inhabited by native populations. Environmental degradation and
the replacement or even the loss of subsistence means due to the expansion of mining activities have caused serious conflicts with local populations and society at
large (Arora et al. 2017).
In developing countries, tailings generated by mining are disposed of in basins,
many times with no control, causing accidents such as the one that occurred in
Mariana, Brazil. In November 2015, basins holding tailings burst due to excess
volume, releasing 34 million m
3
of iron tailings in rivers and lakes, killing 17 people, polluting rivers and lakes, killing animals and plants, and causing impacts that
have not been fully assessed as yet.
The mining industry has a tragic record in health, human safety, and environmental issues. Environmental monitoring is compulsory in most plants. In many cases,
the adoption of sustainable practices is imposed by regulation or initiatives from
nongovernmental organizations. These changes affect mining and processing in
operations of foundries and refineries. For example, refineries have taken the
required steps to reduce the emission of effluents (Arndt et al. 2017). However, solid
waste, including tailings and scum from foundries and refineries, still pose significant hazard concerning the safe storage of large amounts of toxic elements and
potential release of these effluents (Arndt et al. 2017).
10.3 Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment
10.3.1 What Is E-waste?
The literature lists several ways to refer to this kind of waste, including the acronym
waste electric and electronic equipment. However, the most accepted definition
worldwide was given by Directive 2012/19/EU, according to which E-waste is the
waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment after the end of their life
cycle and includes all components, subsets, and usable materials that are part of the
device when it is disposed of (União Europeia 2012).
T. A. da Silveira et al.
10.2.4 Economic, Environmental, and Social Issues
In general, mining has several negative environmental, economic, and social impacts
associated with the extraction and processing of ores. The removal of plant covers
is one of the first stages of ore extraction, when environmental impacts start, followed by subsequent impacts linked with operations, such as the production of dust,
generation of a large amount of solid waste (tailings), and liquid effluents. For
example, data published by Tunsu et al. (2015) indicate that each ton of rare earth
elements produced generated approximately 8.5 kg of fluoride (F) and 13 kg of dust.
In order to obtain concentrated rare earth elements material, 75 m
3
of acid effluents
and between 9.6 m
3
and 12 m
3
of gas are produced. This gas includes sulfuric acid
and sulfur dioxide. Approximately 1 ton of radioactive waste is also generated.
Several mineral reserves are located in forests, in areas that are rich in biodiversity, and regions inhabited by native populations. Environmental degradation and
the replacement or even the loss of subsistence means due to the expansion of mining activities have caused serious conflicts with local populations and society at
large (Arora et al. 2017).
In developing countries, tailings generated by mining are disposed of in basins,
many times with no control, causing accidents such as the one that occurred in
Mariana, Brazil. In November 2015, basins holding tailings burst due to excess
volume, releasing 34 million m
3
of iron tailings in rivers and lakes, killing 17 people, polluting rivers and lakes, killing animals and plants, and causing impacts that
have not been fully assessed as yet.
The mining industry has a tragic record in health, human safety, and environmental issues. Environmental monitoring is compulsory in most plants. In many cases,
the adoption of sustainable practices is imposed by regulation or initiatives from
nongovernmental organizations. These changes affect mining and processing in
operations of foundries and refineries. For example, refineries have taken the
required steps to reduce the emission of effluents (Arndt et al. 2017). However, solid
waste, including tailings and scum from foundries and refineries, still pose significant hazard concerning the safe storage of large amounts of toxic elements and
potential release of these effluents (Arndt et al. 2017).
10.3 Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment
10.3.1 What Is E-waste?
The literature lists several ways to refer to this kind of waste, including the acronym
waste electric and electronic equipment. However, the most accepted definition
worldwide was given by Directive 2012/19/EU, according to which E-waste is the
waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment after the end of their life
cycle and includes all components, subsets, and usable materials that are part of the
device when it is disposed of (União Europeia 2012).
T. A. da Silveira et al.