Anthropogenic Hazards Assessment of Mining Activities in Surghar Range, Punjab, Pakistan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17794/rgn.2025.5.8Keywords:
coal mining, environmental hazards, Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs), water quality, soil contaminationAbstract
This study investigates the environmental impacts of coal mining in the Surghar Range, Punjab, Pakistan, with a focus on the contamination of soil and groundwater by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). To evaluate the extent and sources of contamination, 22 soil and 134 water samples were collected and analyzed using standard physicochemical and geochemical methods. This study identified iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) as the primary anthropogenic PTEs, while chromium (Cr) and arsenic (As) also appear at elevated levels in some locations. Soil PTE concentrations followed the order: Fe > Zn > Pb > Cr > As. Pollution indices revealed moderate to high levels of contamination, with a pollution load index (PLI) of 1.20 indicating overall moderate pollution. Although the potential ecological risk index (PERI) was relatively low at 18, the concentration levels of certain PTEs exceed internationally recognized thresholds, necessitating environmental remediation. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified Fe and Zn as dominant contributors to pollution. Groundwater analysis showed a spatial gradient in water quality: samples near the Indus River were of freshwater quality, while salinity levels increased westward toward the mining zone, with brine-level salinity detected in Tehsil Isa Khel. Water near mining areas exhibited lower pH and higher electrical conductivity (EC), indicative of acid mine drainage and sulfur-rich coal influence. Comparative analysis with global mining regions revealed that mean PTE concentrations in the Surghar Range are significantly higher, emphasizing the need for sustainable mining practices and targeted environmental management strategies to protect soil and water resources.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Syed Sajjad Ahmad, Hafiz Muhammad Zaheer Afzal, Hafiz Zeeshan Akram, Sajjad Khan, Ihtisham Islam, Salman Ahmed Khattak
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