Arsenic concentrations, distributions and bioaccessibilities at a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Devon Great Consols, Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape)

Abstract

Devon Great Consols (DGC) is a region in southwest England where extensive mining for Cu, Sn and As took place in the nineteenth century. Because of its historical and geological significance, DGC has protected status and is part of the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site. Recently, the region was opened up to the public with the construction or redevelopment of various trails, tracks and facilities for walking, cycling and field visits. We used portable x-ray fluorescence spectrometry to measure, in situ, the concentrations of As in soils and dusts in areas that are accessible to the public.Concentrations ranged from about 140 to 75,000 g g -1 (n = 98), and in all but one case exceeded a Category 4 Screening Level for park-type soil of 179 g g -1 . Samples returned to the laboratory and fractionated to < 63 m were subjected to an in vitro assessment of both oral and inhalable bioaccessibility, with concentrations ranging from < 10 to 25,500 g g -1 and dependent on the precise nature and origin of the sample and the physiological fluid applied. Concentrations of As in PM10 collected along various transects of the region averaged over 30 ng m -3 compared with a typical concentration in UK air of < 1 ng m -3 . Calculations using default EPA and CLEA estimates and that factor in for bioaccessibility suggest a six-hour visit to the region results in exposure to As well in excess of that of minimum risk. The overall risk is exacerbated for frequent visitors to the region and for workers employed at the site. Based on our observations, we recommend that the remodelling or repurposing of historical mine sites require more stringent management and mitigation measures.

Mining Heritage Reuse Risks: A Systematic Review

“…The conversion of mining heritage into productive uses signifies a strategic shift from viewing former mining areas merely as relics to recognizing their potential for fostering activities on previously exploited lands [67]. Bolstered by international initiatives aimed at the redevelopment of these abandoned sites [19][20][21][22][23][24][25], the repurposing of mining heritage into diverse sustainable uses is a burgeoning field. Despite the potential benefits, the transition process is fraught with various hazards and risks, making it imperative to undertake comprehensive risk analyses to navigate the complexities of mining heritage reuse effectively.…”

“…This innovative reuse not only fosters local economic development but also ensures a sustainable supply of granite for potential future restoration projects. In the United Kingdom, projects like the Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape UNESCO World Heritage Site demonstrate how abandoned mining sites can be repurposed for tourism, education, and ecological restoration, contributing to local economies while conserving heritage assets [23,24]. Similarly, in Germany, the Ruhr region's transformation from a coal mining hub to a cultural and creative landscape illustrates the potential for adaptive reuse to foster social cohesion and economic diversification in post-industrial contexts [25].…”

Association of Metals with Expanded Polystyrene in the Marine Environment

“…Sample processing and analysis was performed in an ISO 9001accredited laboratory. No reference material exists for metal concentrations in expanded polystyrene but aqua regia digestion of sediment using the same protocol has been validated with in-house and independent reference sediments and soils (Braungardt et al, 2020;Turner, 2022). All digests and extracts were analysed by ICP-MS in triplicate, with relative standard deviations below 20 % in all cases and below 10 % in most cases.…”

Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)

“…Successful examples all around the world have shown that former mining areas can be reused to provide social, ecological, and economic benefits [13,57]. Some mines have become touristic attraction points (Kansas, Texas, USA; Wieliczka, Poland), public parks (Konya, Turkey; Lawrence, MA, USA), stadiums (Braga, Portugal), solar power plants (Senftenberg, Germany) or UNESCO sites (Rosas mines in Sardinia-Italy, Almaden Mining Park in Spain, Falun Mine in Sweeden, Cornwall and West Devon in the UK) [13,[58][59][60][61]. But for these transformations to take place, large projects approved by authorities and supported by governments need to be considered.…”