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Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
Xiaowei Xu1, Dapeng Zhang1, Jie Cao1
1Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, China.
Abstract:
The utilization of iron tailings in road construction poses significant environmental risks due to the complex release mechanisms of pollutants and varying regional conditions. This study integrates an exponential decay model with an instantaneous pollutant transport model, employing Monte Carlo simulations to assess risks and regional characteristics. Results show high Potential Hazard Indices (PHIs) for arsenic, manganese, barium, nickel, and lead, with PHI values between 4.2 and 22.7. Simulations indicate that manganese and nickel concentrations may exceed groundwater standards, particularly in humid areas. The study recommends controlling the iron tailings mixing ratio based on climate, suggesting limits of 35% in humid, 60% in semi-humid, and more lenient ratios in arid and semi-arid regions. It also underscores the need for improved risk assessment methodologies and region-specific management strategies at the national level.
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