- The study classifies metals into two groups: Other Metals and Toxic Heavy Metals based on their toxicity characteristics and Environment Permit Standard Concentrations.
- Common toxic heavy metals found in mine tailings include Cd, Pb, Se, Zn, Cu, As, Ag, Hg, and Cr.
- Monitoring of these metals is crucial in extractive industries due to their toxicity to the environment and organisms.
- The table shows the monthly average concentrations of metals in the tailings of Basamuk Ni0Co refinery compared to their Environment Permit Standard Concentrations and Papua New Guinea Water Quality Guidelines for Marine Water.
- Metals such as Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, and Cu are below the EPSC limits, while metals like As, Cd, Cr6+, Pb, Hg, Se, and Ag are also within acceptable limits.
3. Results and Discussion
3.1 Dissolved Metals Concentration
Metals are classified into two groups; (a) Other Metals (b) Toxic Heavy Metals, depending
on their definitions, toxicity characteristics and Environment Permit Standard Concentrations
(EPSC). Other metals are ones that have an RPC value above “�
” while toxic heavy metals
have values below “�
”. Metals such as Cd, Pb, Se, Zn, Cu, As, Ag, Hg and Cr are common
constituents in mine tailing wastes [2; 7] and are proven to be toxic to the environment and
organisms, including humans [809]. They are toxic to the biota in minute concentrations so
their quality assurance monitoring is of paramount importance in extractive industries.
Deliberations on some of the metals present in the tailings of Basamuk Ni0Co refinery are
found in the ensuing paragraphs.
�Monthly Average Concentrations of Metals and their EPSC.
�!� = Environment Permit Standard Concentration, "#$%# = Papua New Guinea Water Quality
Guidelines for Marine Water.
Mn
Zn
Ni
Co
Cu
<50
<0.31
0.34
<0.1
0.05
≤500
≤50
≤8
≤5
≤5
2.0
5.0
1� 0
0000
0.03
���.�(�/�����
&�����
As
Cd
Cr6+
Pb
Hg
Se
Ag
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
<0.01
≤0.4
≤0.04
≤0.05
≤0.05
≤0.048
≤0.08
≤0.05
0.05
0.001
0.005
0.04
0.0002
0.01
Write the main points for the information given above
1 answer