Assessing local to global associations between mining activity and atmospheric dust

The global mining industry is growing in footprint and continues to occupy new locations globally in support of the energy transition. Associated mining activities like land clearing, blasting and truck haulage are known to generate dust, creating a range of environmental and health hazards. However, research tracking the global spatial and temporal patterns of mine-related dust has been lacking. This study assesses global spatio-temporal patterns of mine dust and factors that influence those distributions both globally and in localized Australian contexts through generalized additive models (GAMs). Spatial patterns of mine dust are evaluated using Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and the results indicate significant geographic heterogeneity - elevated levels of Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) were identified in tropical mining areas in South Asia, West Africa, and Southeast Asia, whereas lower levels of AOD were observed in the United States and Australia. Our statistical analysis indicates that GAMs effectively captured the variability in AOD (global R² = 0.71; local R² = 0.62). However, ground-based PM₁₀ measurements were a more reliable indicator of site-specific mining activity, showing a stronger relationship with mine production (r = 0.6). This study highlights key data uncertainties and complexities influencing our understanding of the impacts of mine dust beyond the local scale. Notably, it highlights an inconsistent disconnect between mines influencing regional dust levels, versus regional dust levels impacting mine operations themselves. It also underscores the importance of developing a standardized method for on-site dust monitoring at all mines worldwide and an improved network of in-situ measurement stations in support of better outcomes for the environment and human health.