Assessment of the Impact of Opencast Chrome Mining on the Ambient Air Concentrations of TSP, Cr, Ni and Pb Around A Mining Complex in Northern Finland

This paper describes the results of an air sampling program designed to evaluate the impact of a chromium opencast mining complex on the ambient air environment at Kemi, Northern Finland. The total suspended particles (TSP) and associated metal (Cr, Ni and Pb) concentrations in the air were determined. The TSP samples were collected simultaneously during one year (2000) at three monitoring stations in the mine area using high volume samplers and glass fibre filters. The heavy metal concentrations were analysed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) after dissolution of the filters by an alkali fusion procedure. The impact of the opencast chrome mine on the air environment was assessed by comparing the TSP and Pb monitoring data with the Finnish air quality limit and guideline values. The results showed that the Finnish air quality guideline values, annual mean and the 98th percentile value were exceeded for TSP, but not for Pb. The results also indicated that ambient air TSP and heavy metals concentrations in the air varied considerably within short time intervals (day-to-day fluctuation), as well as by the month, and that the Cr and Ni concentrations in the air correlated strongly with TSP.

Keywords:

• Tsp
• Cr
• Ni
• Pb
• Air Particulate Matter
• Chrome Mining