Advances in Recycling & Waste Management

Occurrence of Heavy Metals in Mining Areas Case of Tete Province in Mozambique

Abstract

Joana da Claudia Ricardo*, Juvencio Lucas Novela and Ornilio Zandamela

Agricultural and mining activities are extremely important in terms of human needs, as they provide resources for survival and well-being, in addition to being a source of income in the world. In Mozambique, fossil fuels are the energy base of modern industrial society, with mineral coal being the non-renewable energy source with the greatest availability capable of sustaining 150 years of consumption in the absence of all energy sources. There are several coal deposits in Mozambique, the most outstanding and one of the largest in the world being the coal basin of Moatize, Tete province, with estimated reserves of just over 2.5 billion tons. The transport of heavy metals in mines and steel industries has caused contamination of the soil and mainly of the water. On the other hand, the irrigation of plants with contaminated water generates numerous waterborne diseases and the direct consumption of this water gives rise to serious health problems for man and even animals. Mining activities must be carried out taking into account the risk of contamination by heavy metals. There are some techniques for removing heavy metals in water and soil, and some of them have certain limitations. The risk assessment is done through models based on statistical tests and laboratory tests, according to the parameter to be evaluated. The most common heavy metals are copper, zinc and cadmium.