Accepted Manuscript

The potential risk of environmental contamination by mercury contained in coal mining

waste

Tomasz Antoszczyszyn, Anna Michalska

PII: S2300-3960(16)30078-7
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsm.2017.04.002
Reference: JSM 53

To appear in: Journal of Sustainable Mining

Received Date: 31 October 2016

Accepted Date: 12 April 2017

Please cite this article as: Antoszczyszyn T. & Michalska A., The potential risk of environmental
contamination by mercury contained in coal mining waste, Journal of Sustainable Mining (2017), doi:
10.1016/j.jsm.2017.04.002.

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THE POTENTIAL RISK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION
BY MERCURY CONTAINED ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT
IN COAL MINING WASTE

Tomasz Antoszczyszyn1, Anna Michalska2

1
Central Mining Institute, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Studies, Clean Coal Technologies Centre,
Poland, 40-166 Katowice, Plac Gwarków 1; e-mail address: tomasz_antoszczyszyn@wp.pl
2
Central Mining Institute, Department of Environmental Monitoring, Poland, 40-166 Katowice,
Plac Gwarków 1; e-mail address: anmichalska@gig.eu - corresponding Author

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 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

The Potential Risk of Environmental Contamination

by Mercury Contained in Polish Coal Mining Waste

ABSTRACT

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The paper contains reference literature analysis concerning mercury content in Polish
bituminous coal and post-mining waste as well as the impact of mercury content on the
environment. The aim of the paper was to determine the occurrence of the risk of

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contamination of the environment with mercury compounds found in demolition bituminous
coal landfills. Mercury, due to its toxic properties has been classified among the most

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dangerous substances to human health. There are three groups of sources of mercury release
into the environment: natural, anthropogenic and remission. Coal mining, its processing and
use in the energy sector has the greatest relevance regarding the pollution of the environment

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with mercury compounds in Poland. A review of reference literature shows that the average
content of mercury in Polish bituminous coal varies within a wide range of 41 to 399 ppb,
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which is conditional on the origin, age and type of coal. The production of coal has led to a
number of facilities in the form of structurally and age-varied landfills, heaps and mining
waste dumps. The content of mercury in post-mining waste is in the range from approximately
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55 to 380 ppb. The problem of environmental contamination with mercury has attracted
considerable interest due to the effects that its concentration have in the biosphere. On the
basis of the existing data it has been found that the content of mercury in soils in areas
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degraded by mining and processing of coal is even 10-16 times higher, compared to the
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geochemical background. It is necessary to conduct research in this area due to the limited
results of research on mercury content in deposited waste from the preparation and flotation
of Polish bituminous coals and the potential harmful effect of mercury on the environment.
The paper is dedicated to the mercury content in waste from the extraction and processing of
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bituminous coal.
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Keywords: mercury content, bituminous coal mining waste, bituminous coal, mercury
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emission, mercury sources

1. Introduction
Mercury is known to be one of the most toxic elements, it is third on the list of
substances most dangerous to human health drawn up by the Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (2013). It is characterized by high chemical and biological activity. It
also has a tendency to accumulate in living organisms creating many toxic connections, both
inorganic and organic. Once introduced into the environment, it remains there and does not
disappear. Sources of mercury released into the environment, causing its accumulation in
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living organisms, can be divided into the following groups (Amos, Jacob & Sunderland, 2013;
Hławiczka & Cenowski, 2013; Global Mercury Assessment, 2013; Michalska, 2010; Pirrone
et al., 2010; Małuszyńska, Popenda & Małuszyński, 2011; Pacyna et al., 2010; Hławiczka,
2008):
− natural sources - mercury release as the result of processes such as: weathering of rocks,
evaporation from the seas and oceans, volcanic eruptions and others (Fig.1.);
− anthropogenic sources - the release of mercury contained in mineral raw materials and
fossil fuels processed by humans and the release of mercury from man-made products,

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in which mercury has been used intentionally as a component of a manufactured
product (Fig.2);
− reemission from mercury deposits resulting from the sedimentation of this metal and its

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compounds, especially in the sediments of ground water and in soil.

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Agricultural areas Volcanoes and
2% geothermal
Lakes areas

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Evasion after 2% 2%
mercury depletion
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events
4% Forests
7%
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Tundra/Grassland/
Savannah/Prairie/
Chaparral
9% Oceans
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51%
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Desert/Metalliferous/
Non-vegetated zones
10%
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Biomass burning
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13%

Fig.1 Global mercury emissions from natural sources in 2008 (own elaboration based on
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Pirrone et al., 2010)

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Fig.2 Global mercury emissions from various anthropogenic sources in 2008 (Kurus &
Białecka, 2013; Global Mercury Assessment, 2013)
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With the development of civilization and industrialization, an increase in the total

emissions of mercury to the environment have been observed for decades. The annual
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emission of mercury in 2008 was estimated at 7527 tons, including emissions from natural
sources which amounted to 5207 tons, while 2320 tonnes came from anthropogenic sources
(Pirrone et al., 2010). In 2010, mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources decreased by
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16% compared to 2008. Mercury emissions is comprised of the emissions from the individual
continents (Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment, 2013):
- Asia (without Russia) 931 Mg
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- Africa 329.6 Mg
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- North America 245 Mg

- European Union 87.5 Mg
- South America 60.7 Mg
- Central America with the Caribbean Islands 47.2 Mg
- Australia with New Zealand and Oceania 22.3 Mg

In Poland, among a variety of anthropogenic activities that affect the pollution of the
environment with mercury compounds, it is coal mining, processing and use in the energy
sector which have the greatest impact (Table 1). In this regard, the largest emissions of this
metal can be seen in large industrial regions, i.e. the Wielkopolska and Silesia areas. The
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lowest emissions were observed in the Lubuskie and Warmian-Mazurian areas (Bochenek,
2014; Hławiczka, 2008).

Table 1 Total emission of mercury in Poland according to kinds of activity in 2008 - 2012
(Bochenek, 2010; Bochenek, 2012, Bochenek, 2014, Bochenek 2016)
Emission
Specification of
2008 2010 2012 2014
activity
Mg % Mg % Mg % Mg %

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Total 15.69 100 14.85 100 10.24 100 9.59 100
Combustion in
energy production 8.81 56.15 8.77 59.06 5.66 55.27 5.21 54.33

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and conversion
industries
Public power plants

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and thermal power 7.91 50.41 7.81 52.59 4.83 47.17 4.48 46.72
plants
Heating plants 0.79 5.04 0.93 6.26 0.82 8.01 0.70 7.30

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Refineries - - 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.10 0.01 0.10
Solid fuel conversion 0.00 0.00 0.01 0.07 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.21
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Mining industry
0.11 0.70 0.02 0.13 0.01 0.10 0.01 0.10
energy resources
Non-industrial
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1.36 8.67 1.78 11.99 1.55 15.14 1.01 10.53

combustion plants
Commercial and
0.23 1.47 0.32 2.15 0.28 2.73 0.23 2.40
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institutional plants
Households 0.95 6.05 1.25 8.42 1.08 10.55 0.60 6.26
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Agriculture, forestry,
0.18 1.15 0.22 1.48 0.19 1.86 0.18 1.88
and others
Combustion in
4.63 29.51 3.47 23.37 2.39 23.34 2.82 29.41
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industry
Combustion in
boilers, gas turbines 0.20 1.27 0.22 1.48 0.18 1.76 0.16 1.67
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and engines
Combustion with
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contact and without 4.43 28.23 3.25 21.89 2.21 21.58 2.65 27.63
contact
Production processes 0.84 5.35 0.78 5.25 0.59 5.76 0.52 5.42
Processes in iron and
0.81 5.16 0.75 5.05 0.49 4.79 0.45 4.69
steel industries
Processes in inorganic
0.03 0.19 0.03 0.20 0.10 0.98 0.07 0.73
chemical industries
Waste management 0.04 0.25 0.05 0.34 0.06 0.59 0.03 0.31
Municipal waste
0.04 0.25 0.05 0.34 0.06 0.59 0.03 0.31
incineration
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The scenario analysis of mercury emissions into air, water and soil in Poland up to
2020, carried out by Panasiuk and Głodek (2012), showed that in the Status Quo scenario, the
growth in production and consumption will lead to an increase in domestic anthropogenic
mercury emissions to air, water and soil from 25.7 Mg (2008, as the base year) to 26.6 Mg in
2020. In a scenario of increased emission control (EXEC), mercury emissions to the air will
be reduced, in 2020, to 8.9 Mg (about 65%). However, in the scenario of the
Maximum Feasible Technical Reduction (MFTR), a decrease of mercury emissions to 3.6 Mg

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(about 86%) will take place. However, according to global scenarios developed by the United
Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), a decrease in the concentration of mercury in
areas away from industry can range from 15 to 20%. In industrial regions, following the

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Status Quo scenario, emissions of mercury will increase from 2 to 25%, away from those
areas from 1.5 to 5% (Technical Background Report for the Global Mercury Assessment,

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2013). The presented data on the projected emissions of mercury indicate that despite a
reduction in emissions, this pollutant load will still be high, and therefore pro-environmental
measures related to eliminating the existing, as well as future, environmental pollution of
mercury should be continued.

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Currently, there are few detailed studies on mercury content in the waste from the
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process of the preparation and flotation of Polish bituminous coals deposited in landfills.
Dziok et al. (2014) analyzed the changes in the mercury content in bituminous coal in coal
processing plants (i.e. dense media baths, washer jigs, flotation machines). Mercury content in
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concentrates ranged from 34 to 228 ppb. The determined ratios of mercury content reduction
ranged from 10 to 89%. The highest ratios were obtained for dense media baths. Moreover,
the risks, relating to depositing this type of waste in to the environment, have not been
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recognized. It is therefore necessary to take measures aimed at recognizing the content and
behaviour of mercury compounds, especially bearing in mind the possibility of
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transformations, e.g. the demolition of a waste dump for future investment. Gaining
knowledge on this subject will allow actions to be taken to minimize the negative impact of
mercury on the environment and prevent adverse phenomena from occurring.
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The aim of the paper is to determine the occurrence of the risk of contamination of the
environment with mercury compounds for demolition bituminous coal landfills. Demolition
bituminous coal landfills can pose a risk of mercury polluting the environment due to the
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possibility of increased risk of fire, remission, as well as the transfer of xenobiotics to another
place.
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2. Mercury content in Polish bituminous coal

From a review of domestic and foreign literature in the field of mercury content in
bituminous coal, a large diversity between research results has been noted, as they range from
30 to 300 ppb. The results of the tests carried out on coal samples from the United States
show a variation in mercury content in the range of 30 - 200 ppb, coal from Russia 70 - 120
ppb, coal from China 60 - 80 ppb, coal from Australia 50 - 100 ppb, and coal from the UK at
the level of 110 ppb (Olkuski, 2007; Smolinski, 2007).
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Mercury content in Polish bituminous coal has been studied by many authors (Table 2).
Wojnar and Wisz (2006) found that the average mercury content in Polish bituminous coal is
around 100 ppb. Similar values were obtained by Michalska and Białecka (2012). The authors
examined more than 130 samples of raw bituminous coal from 30 mines from the Upper
Silesian Coal Basin (USCB). The average value of mercury content in all the mines studied
was within the range of 80 - 110 ppb. Comparable values were obtained by Wichliński,
Kobyłecki and Bis (2013). In the tested samples of energy coal, mercury content ranged from
13 to 156 ppb, with an average of about 80 ppb. Similar values were provided by Klojzy-

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Karczmarczyk and Mazurek (2013b). The average mercury content in bituminous coal from
seams in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, representing different lithostratigraphic units (Libiaz,
Laziska, Orzesze, Ruda, Saddle, Poręba and Jaklowieckie Beds), was approximately 74 ppd.

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Slightly lower values are given by Olkuski (2007), the average mercury content in coal from
11 mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin was approximately 60 ppb (range from 1 to 758

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ppb), while for the Lower Silesian Coal Basin (LSCB), the average mercury content in
bituminous coal was considerably larger and amounted to 399 ppb in a range from 81 to 967
ppb. In contrast, the values obtained by Okońska, Uruski, Górecki and Gołaś (2013) from the
results of coal samples from 13 mining plants located in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin were

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in the range of 70.3 - 276.4 ppb (on average 137 ppb). Mercury content in coals intended for
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individual recipients was examined by Klojzy-Karczmarczyk and Mazurek (2013a). The
authors analyzed mercury content in 25 samples of different assortments of coal (cube, nut,
pea, eco-pea, and fine-grained) from 8 mines in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. The average
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mercury content of the tested assortments of coal is in the range of 7 - 85 ppb, wherein the
average value is 41.6 ppb.
The diverse content of mercury in coal results from its origin (the position of
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accompanying rocks, types of circulating water and its temperature), age and grade. Mercury
in coal is present in 47% of the heavy fractions in the form of inorganic compounds
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(sulphides, chlorides and sulphates). The remaining part is present in light fractions and in the
form of organic compounds (Lorenz & Grudziński, 2007; Aleksa, Dyduch & Wierzchowski,
2007; Wojnar & Wisz, 2006).
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Table 2 Mercury content in bituminous coal in Poland – a review of the subject literature
It. Range of Average Number of Characteristics of Literature
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No. content Hg content population analysed coal

Hg [ppb]
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[ppb] study
1 20 – 550 120,1 121 30 KWK (Burmistrz &
Kogut, 2016)
2 28 – 123 - 15 5 KWK (GZW) (Zajusz-Zubek &
Konieczyński,
2014)
3 70 – 276 137 17 13 KWK (GZW) (Okońska, Uruski,
Górecki & Gołaś,
2013)
4 13 - 156 80 63 41 individual (Wichliński,
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mines Kobyłecki & Bis,
2013)
5 7 - 85 41.6 125 8 KWK (GZW) (Klojzy-
Karczmarczyk &
Mazurek, 2013a)
6 29 – 302.6 74 100 35 coal seams (Klojzy-
from 17 KWK Karczmarczyk &
(GZW) Mazurek, 2013b)

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7 70 – 270 80 – 110 130 130 KWK (GZW) (Michalska &
Białecka, 2012)
8 18 – 561 105 (LZW) 150 13 KWK: (Olkuski, 2007)

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(LZW) 399 (DZW) 1 from LZW
81 – 967 60 (GZW) 1 from DZW

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(DZW) 11 from GZW
1 – 758 (GZW)
9 54 - 141 100 800 several power
(Wojnar & Wisz,
plants

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2006)
Legend: KWK – Bituminous coal mine, GZW - Upper Silesian Coal Basin, DZW - Lower
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Silesian Coal Basin, LZW - Lublin Coal Basin

Coal is still of great importance to the Polish economy due to the fact that it is the main
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source of thermal and electrical energy used in Polish industry, which is confirmed by both,
Polish Energy Policy until 2030 (2009) as well as the Project of Polish Energy Policy until
2050 (2015), both of which assume the use of coal as the main fuel for power generation.
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Thus, the waste from the extraction and processing of bituminous coal will continue to be a
regular part of the mining process, and therefore in line with sustainable development we
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should be consciously aware of the hazards it poses to the environment.

3. Mining waste management legislation
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The basic legal act regulating the issues of handling mining waste, at the level of the
European Union, is the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council 2006/21/EC
of 15 March 2006 on the management of waste from extractive industries and amending
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Directive 2004/35/EC, whose transposition to Polish law took place in the Act of 10 July
2008 on mining waste (Polish Journal of Laws of 2008 No. 138, item. 865, as amended). The
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purpose of the above mentioned act is to prevent the formation of mining waste in the mining
industry, reducing its adverse impact on the environment and on the lives and health of
people. One of the most important legal instruments, which is the basic document containing
information about the mining waste produced, is the Mining waste management program
(Baic & Witkowska-Kita, 2011). The mining waste management program requires approval,
which is issued for a specific time period - a maximum of 10 years. If the program shows that
the facility on which mining waste is deposited is classified as inert waste which does not
pose a threat to soil, groundwater and surface waters, the competent authority may waive the
requirement of testing the composition of surface water, leachate and groundwater, measuring
the volume of leachate and measuring the level of groundwater, unless the waste is deposited
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in a disposal facility of mining waste category A (Art. 27 par. 10 of the Act on mining waste,
Journal of Laws of 2008 No. 138, item. 865, as amended).
The scope, time, manner and conditions of monitoring mining waste facility was
determined in the Regulation of the Minister of Environment of 29 May 2014 on the
monitoring of mining waste disposal facilities (Journal of Laws 2014, item 875). This
regulation specifies in detail the range of activities necessary for the preparation of the
characteristics of extracted waste in order to identify potential environmental risks.
Klojzy-Karczmarczyk and Mazurek (2010) and Michalska, Białecka & Bauerek (2015)

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conducted a study of mercury content of the subsurface layer of soil in the vicinity of selected
dumps of bituminous coal mining waste in the form of gangue or waste from preparation and
coal flotation. Mercury content in the soils examined varied widely, from about 20 ppb to

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over 180 ppb (approximately 78 ppb). The highest levels of mercury were found in the
immediate vicinity of the industrial facilities of mines and waste dumps located close to

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mines. The determined mercury content does not exceed the allowable mercury content for
soil (0.5 mg/kg), as defined in the Regulation of the Minister of the Environment of 9
September 2002 on soil quality standards (Journal of Laws No 165, item. 1359). The results
concerning the content of mercury in soils, in areas degraded by the extraction and processing

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of bituminous coal, are part of the analyses carried out in the Upper Silesian Industrial
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District. Elevated levels of mercury are found in the areas being analysed, which in
comparison to the geochemical background are even 10-16 times higher. Data of this kind
may constitute an input load supplying database tool, helpful when choosing the direction of
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the redevelopment of degraded areas. The concentration of harmful substances, found in soil,
water and the atmosphere in this case is one of the categories of data necessary to determine
the ecological and environmental characteristics of the ground chosen by the investor
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(Michalska & Michalski, 2015; Michalska, Białecka & Bauerek, 2015).

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4. Mercury content in coal mining waste in Poland

The production of bituminous coal has left a number of disposal facilities in the form of
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structurally and age-varied landfills, dumps and mining waste dumps. Mercury contained in
coal mining waste, as a result of chemical transformations, can be leached and spread by
water or through the transport of desiccated dust in the air. In the event of mining waste dump
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fires, mercury, due to its physical properties, can easily be released as gas contamination and
dangerously affect the air quality. In connection with the above, the identification of
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environmental risks resulting from old and undeveloped facilities that have been closed for
many years, is necessary to maintain the standards of soil, water and air quality, especially in
the case of newly created possibilities for the redevelopment of deposited waste.
Over the last fifteen years, a minor increase in the amount of waste generated during the
extraction of coal in Poland can be observed. Based on statistical data (Bochenek, 2016), the
amount of waste generated by the business sector in Poland in 2015 amounted to 131.0 mln
Mg. Waste generated during the extraction of bituminous coal accounted for approximately
55% (72.3 million Mg), which, when compared to 2005, is an increase of about 6.8%, and,
when compared to 2010, is an increase of about 16.4% (Bochenek, 2006, 2011).
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Literature data indicates that mercury content in the waste from the preparation and
flotation of bituminous coal varies. Klojzy-Karczmarczyk and Mazurek (2007) analyzed post-
mining coal waste accumulated in the sub-surface profile of a mining waste dump (20 to 70
cm below ground level, BGL) for the content of mercury and sulphur compounds. It was
shown that the total mercury content in the waste deposited in the dump, more than a dozen
years ago, is within a wide range of 62.2 to 227.2 ppb for the samples from the shallowest
layer (from 20 to 30 cm BGL) and from 89.7 to 298.7 ppb for the samples from the deepest
layer (40 to 70 cm BGL). The averaged values are 132 ppb and 266 ppb, respectively. Similar

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values were obtained by Michalska and Białecka (2012). The authors confirmed that mercury
content in waste from the mining and processing of coal is significantly higher than mercury
content in raw coal. Mercury content in waste samples tested is in a range from 70 to 270 ppb,

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with a maximum value of 380 ppb. Dziok et. al. (2015) in order to identify the way of binding
mercury with a mineral substance of bituminous coal, tested waste from the preparation of

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coal (i.e. dense medium, jigs and flotation), characterized by high mineral substance. In the
studied samples of waste, the contents of mercury, total sulphur and its various forms were
determined. The tested samples of waste were characterized by varying mercury content in a
range from 55 to 249 ppb. When analysing the effect of various preparation operations on the

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mercury content in the resulting precipitation, it was found that with regard to mercury
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content the most uniform is waste from flotation, and waste from dense medium is the least
homogeneous. The results of the analysis showed no significant correlation between mercury
content in the tested waste and the content of ash and mineral substances.
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The problem of environmental contamination with mercury has attracted considerable

interest due to the effects that an increase in its concentration causes in the biosphere.
Comprehensive studies on mercury content in waste generated in the process of mining and
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processing bituminous coal, and the waste from coal combustion for energy purposes have
only recently been launched. There are no estimations concerning the size of the domestic
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loading of mercury contained in solid waste and deposited in dumps located close to mines
and coal processing plants. Carrying out this type of research, in order to carry out further
comprehensive inventory of mercury load content in the deposited waste, could be used for
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the initial classification of risks arising from waste recycling in the process of dump removal.
Estimating the size of the load of certain pollutants released into the environment is now
an important part of the procedures of environment quality management.
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5. Conclusions
The global emission of mercury has been estimated at 7527 tons, including 5207 tons
from natural sources and 2320 tons from anthropogenic ones (2008). The highest, since as
much as 42% of global mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources is associated with it, is
undoubtedly gold mining. Coal combustion was second with a share of 24% in emissions.
In Poland, about 90% of mercury emissions are associated with coal mining, its
processing and use in the energy sector.
Due to mercury content in bituminous coal, its utilization and processing poses a
significant threat to the environment, since mercury once introduced into the environment
remains there and does not disappear.
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The average content of mercury in Polish bituminous coal has been studied by many
authors, and the results varied within wide ranges from 41 to 399 ppb. The diverse content of
mercury in coal results from its origin (the position of accompanying rocks, types of
circulating water and its temperature), age and sort.
The distribution of mercury into dump profiles and the possibilities arising from
mercury behaviour during the process of the spontaneous combustion of dumps has not been
investigated yet, and this may be important during the reclamation of land from mine dust
removal. Current knowledge on the mercury content in bituminous coal and mining waste is

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constantly being expanded in order to take effective measures for the comprehensive
management of its load in the environment.
A critical review of the literature leads to the conclusion that there is no research on the

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content of mercury in the dumps of mining waste from the coal-mining industry, although it is
important for their demolition or to conduct reclamation work. Research carried out so far has

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focused on the analysis of mercury content in coal and of the content of mercury in the areas
adjacent to the dumps.

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Highlights:
ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

1. Mercury contained in the waste mining is a potential threat to the

environment
2. There is a need to examine the mercury content in areas degraded by
mining
3. The average content of mercury in Polish hard coal varies from 41 to 399
ppb

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