Effect on Land
Deforestation: Mining needs large areas of land to be cleared so
that the miners could dig deep into the earth. For this reason, large-scale
deforestation is required to be carried out in the areas where mining has to be
done. Besides clearing the mining area, vegetation in the adjoining areas also
needs to be cut in order to construct roads and residential facilities for the
mine workers. The human population brings along with it other activities that
harm the environment. Activities at coal mines also release dust into the air
Pollution: Despite taking measures of releasing a large amount of chemicals in nearby rivers, they still leak out onto the land. This changes the chemical composition of the land. It also doesn’t allow plants to grow since the land becomes poisonous. It will also affect the living organisms within the area.
Effect on Water
Pollution: Chemicals like mercury, cyanide, sulfuric acid, arsenic and methyl mercury are used in various stages of mining. These are released into nearby bodies of water like rivers. In spite of tailings (pipes) being used to dispose these chemicals, there are still chances of them leaking. When the leaked chemicals slowly meet the layers of the earth, they reach the groundwater and pollute it. This can be harmful for vegetation of the surrounding areas.
Loss of Aquatic Life: Release of toxic chemicals into the water is obviously harmful for the flora and fauna of the water bodies. Besides the pollution, water from sources nearby is also needed in the mining processes. For example, water is used to wash impurities from the coal. The result is that the water content of the river or lake from which water is being used gets reduced. The organisms within these waters won’t have enough for survival.
Spread of Diseases
Sometimes the liquid waste that is generated after the metals or minerals have been extracted is disposed in a mining pit. As the pit gets filled up by the mine tailings, they become a stagnant pool of water. This becomes the breeding ground for water-borne diseases causing insects and organisms like mosquitoes to flourish.
Pollution: Despite taking measures of releasing a large amount of chemicals in nearby rivers, they still leak out onto the land. This changes the chemical composition of the land. It also doesn’t allow plants to grow since the land becomes poisonous. It will also affect the living organisms within the area.
Effect on Water
Pollution: Chemicals like mercury, cyanide, sulfuric acid, arsenic and methyl mercury are used in various stages of mining. These are released into nearby bodies of water like rivers. In spite of tailings (pipes) being used to dispose these chemicals, there are still chances of them leaking. When the leaked chemicals slowly meet the layers of the earth, they reach the groundwater and pollute it. This can be harmful for vegetation of the surrounding areas.
Loss of Aquatic Life: Release of toxic chemicals into the water is obviously harmful for the flora and fauna of the water bodies. Besides the pollution, water from sources nearby is also needed in the mining processes. For example, water is used to wash impurities from the coal. The result is that the water content of the river or lake from which water is being used gets reduced. The organisms within these waters won’t have enough for survival.
Spread of Diseases
Sometimes the liquid waste that is generated after the metals or minerals have been extracted is disposed in a mining pit. As the pit gets filled up by the mine tailings, they become a stagnant pool of water. This becomes the breeding ground for water-borne diseases causing insects and organisms like mosquitoes to flourish.
Effects like loss of Aquatic life and deforestation are examples of decrease in biodiversity. We should do something to sustain the environment that we have now. If these activities continue, there wouldn't be an environment filled with variety left.
Reference:
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-mining-affect-the-environment.html
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