Environmental pollution status as a result of limestone and dolomite mining – a case study

Abstract

Rapid industrial and developmental activities have put the emphasis on opencast mining for greater and economic recovery of minerals. But mining operations not only disrupt the natural ecosystem in a significant way, but also bring about a number of health hazards and socioeconomic disturbances to the local people. In the present paper the air and water pollution aspects of limestone and dolomite mines on the nearby locality has been investigated. It was observed that the common parameters of air and water are within the prescribed limits. A number of people in this area are affected by tuberculosis, which may be due to prolonged exposure to dust in mines.