Determination of Cu, Zn and Cd in Soil, Water and Food Products in the Vicinity of RMG Gold and Copper Mine, Kazreti, Georgia

Avkopashvili, Guranda; Avkopashvili, Marika; Gongadze, Alexander; Tsulukidze, Manana; Shengelia, Evgenia

doi:10.1016/j.aasci.2017.05.001

Cited by 28 publications

(24 citation statements)

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“…There are multiple causes for the water contamination in the Mashavera River Basin, which has been identified as one of the polluted rivers in Georgia [ 8 ]. The mining industries in the Kvemo Kartli region have been identified as one of major causes for environmental pollution, particularly the heavy metal contamination of water, airborne particles and soil [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Since 1975, the “Madneuli” mining plant has been operating near Kazreti Village under different management bodies [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Quality in Surface Water: A Preliminary Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of the Mashavera River, Georgia

Withanachchi

Ghambashidze

Kunchulia

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Water quality contamination by heavy metal pollution has severe effects on public health. In the Mashavera River Basin, an important agricultural area for the national food system in Georgia (e.g., vegetable, dairy and wine production), water contamination has multiple influences on the regional and country-wide health. With new industrial activities in the region, sediment extraction, and discharge of untreated wastewater into the river, its tributaries and irrigation canals, a comprehensive study of water quality was greatly needed. This study examined sediment and water samples from 17 sampling sites in the Mashavera River Basin during the high and low precipitation seasons. The results were characterized utilizing the Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Pollution Load index (PLI), Contamination Factor (CF) and Metal Index (MI). According to the CFs, Cu > Cd > Zn > Pb > Fe > Mn > Ni > Cr > Hg is the descending order for the content of all observed heavy metals in sediments collected in both seasons. Fe and As were additionally examined in water samples. Overall, As, Cd and Pb, all highly toxic elements, were found in high concentrations in downstream sample sites. According to these results, comprehensive monitoring with narrow intervals between sampling dates, more sample sites along all waterways, and proximate observation of multiple trace metal elements are highly recommended. Moreover, as the part of the water quality governance system, an immediate and sustainable collective action by all stakeholders to control the pollution level is highly recommended, as this issue is linked to the security of the national food system and poses a local public health risk.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water Quality in Surface Water: A Preliminary Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of the Mashavera River, Georgia

Withanachchi

Ghambashidze

Kunchulia

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…Environmental pollution in the Mashavera River Basin has been a key natural resource governance problem in Georgia. The open-pit mining sites have been identified as a major cause of environmental pollution in the region (Figure 2a) [30,32]. The sediment rock extraction is another cause of river pollution.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…environmental pollution in the region (Figure 2a) [30,32]. The sediment rock extraction is another cause of river pollution.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…People in the river basin have been exposed to prolonged environmental pollution due to opencast mining extraction [30,31]. Since 1975, the 'Madneuli' mining plants have been operating in Kazreti, Bolnisi Municipality [32]. In 2014, a new open-pit mining site was started in Sakdrisi, Dmanisi Municipality, by the company RMG Gold [33], and they are continuing preliminary studies for new mining sites in the Kvemo Bolnisi region [34].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Farmers’ Perception of Water Quality and Risks in the Mashavera River Basin, Georgia: Analyzing the Vulnerability of the Social-Ecological System through Community Perceptions

et al. 2018

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Competing natural resources usage that leads to dramatic land use changes can threaten the balance of a social-ecological system. When this is the case, communities are directly exposed to the negative consequences of those land use changes. The Mashavera River Basin is considered one of the hotspots of environmental pollution in Georgia. This is of importance for public health because the food production from this basin meets a substantial proportion of the country’s food demand. The farmers’ perception of the water quality and their perceived risks to the economy, health, and lifestyle reflect the status of the environmental and social conditions. The inclusion of farmers’ risk perceptions is an important stage of water quality governance that could enable active civic participation. The approach of this research study was the convergence model in the triangular design of the mixed method approach. As part of the social data, the research study was conducted with a survey of 177 households, for which agriculture was either a main or partial source of income. A few focus group discussions were also conducted. A binary logistic regression analysis was employed as the main method for the analysis. The results from the pollution load index (PLI) were used as the supportive data to verify some geospatial hypotheses. We found that aesthetic attributes (i.e., color changes observed in the river) and the source of the water contamination (i.e., mining sites) were the main predictor variables for a perceived risk to water quality, health, and livelihoods. The people who work in agriculture as the main income source had more concern about their ability to sell their agricultural products as a result of water contamination in the river, compared with people for whom agriculture is a secondary source of income or for self-consumption. Age, amount of land, years of agricultural experience, and the source of water supply for agriculture did not have a significant effect on any of the risk perception or water quality perception models. The results indicate that the health risk is perceived more strongly in areas with more heavily contaminated water compared to less polluted areas. We propose that conducting a public risk perception assessment is an ideal means to detect people’s concerns regarding water quality governance for future risk analysis in Georgia. Another recommendation of this study is an integrated model of risk assessment that combines the results from a public risk perception assessment and a technical assessment. The benefits of such an integrated assessment include finding new hazard-sensitive areas for further analysis, the possibility to cross-check data for verification, communal communication of hazardous conditions by utilizing local knowledge, and the direct participation of the community in monitoring risks.

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“…Hotspots have been identified where the water quality has become a major NRM issue and leads to a domino effect in Georgia [99]. Among them, industrial activities are one of main reason to water contamination in Georgia [100,101]. The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) "Environmental Performance Reviews 2016" pointed out the untreated wastewater discharge from the urban areas, Chiatura manganese mines, copper (JSC RMG Copper) and gold mines in Bolnisi area, coal mines in Tkibuli area, factories in Batumi, and the Batumi Oil Refinery, as well as eutrophication in the Black Sea, as alarming contributors to water pollution [102].…”

Section: Current Status Of Water Usage and Water Pollution In Georgiamentioning

confidence: 99%

A Paradigm Shift in Water Quality Governance in a Transitional Context: A Critical Study about the Empowerment of Local Governance in Georgia

Withanachchi

Ghambashidze

Kunchulia

et al. 2018

Water

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Abstract:The management of water quality is an important part of natural resource governance. Assurance of water quality therefore requires formulation of the regulatory framework and institutional process. Water quality-related problems and their management are mainly recognized as local responsibilities in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The politics of environmental policy-making should consider the political economic dynamics and socio-ecological patterns. Decentralization by providing more power to the local level and moving to a new spatial management system that is based on water basins are the two strong entreaties in the new water governance paradigm. Transitional countries facing rapid institutional adjustment, restructuring of regulations, and political-economic changes are encountering these demands internally and externally in their policy formulations. In this context, this study critically examines the case of Georgia, a transitional country. In particular, the focus is on how local governance entities can be empowered and what obstacles water quality governance encounters in Georgia. Qualitative research design is the main research method implemented in this study. The key findings from the research analysis are as follows: the existing regulations and governance system do not facilitate the active engagement of local entities in water quality governance. The application of new water polices may fail again if a top-down governance model is put in place that only creates a narrow space for local governance entities to effectively govern water quality.

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Determination of Cu, Zn and Cd in Soil, Water and Food Products in the Vicinity of RMG Gold and Copper Mine, Kazreti, Georgia

Cited by 28 publications

References 6 publications

Water Quality in Surface Water: A Preliminary Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of the Mashavera River, Georgia

Water Quality in Surface Water: A Preliminary Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination of the Mashavera River, Georgia

Farmers’ Perception of Water Quality and Risks in the Mashavera River Basin, Georgia: Analyzing the Vulnerability of the Social-Ecological System through Community Perceptions

A Paradigm Shift in Water Quality Governance in a Transitional Context: A Critical Study about the Empowerment of Local Governance in Georgia

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