Heavy Metals Pollution Risk in Roșia Montană Area. Note II: Copper, Zinc and Arsenic Soil Occurrence
Abstract
At the core of all green closure and reclamation efforts lies a framework of principles and practices
designed to reduce environmental and community harm while maximizing economic and social
benefits in the post-mining phase. The aim of the study is to develop risk matrices copper, zinc and
arsenic contamination risk in Ros
ia Montana
area Ros
ia Montana
. Soil analysis in the Ros
ia Montana
area identified significant heavy metal contamination, particularly near former mining operations,
where concentrations of lead, copper, zinc, arsenic, and cadmium exceeded permissible limits, posing
substantial environmental and health risks. Although copper, zinc, and arsenic levels in distant areas
remained within acceptable limits, the overall averages across all sampling sites exceeded regulatory
thresholds, underscoring the cumulative effects of both historical and ongoing mining activities.
Industrial and mining waste emerged as the most critical risk factor for all three metals, necessitating
prioritized intervention. Additionally, risks stemming from agricultural and industrial practices
demand targeted strategies to reduce their long-term impact on soil health and community well-being.