Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade

The utilization of iron tailings in road construction poses significant environmental risks due to the complex release mechanisms of pollutants and varying regional conditions. This study integrates an exponential decay model with an instantaneous pollutant transport model, employing Monte Carlo sim...

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Main Authors: Xiaowei Xu, Dapeng Zhang, Jie Cao, Chaoyue Wu, Yi Wang, Jing Hua, Zehua Zhao, Jun Zhang, Qi Yu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Toxics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/603
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author Xiaowei Xu
Dapeng Zhang
Jie Cao
Chaoyue Wu
Yi Wang
Jing Hua
Zehua Zhao
Jun Zhang
Qi Yu
author_facet Xiaowei Xu
Dapeng Zhang
Jie Cao
Chaoyue Wu
Yi Wang
Jing Hua
Zehua Zhao
Jun Zhang
Qi Yu
author_sort Xiaowei Xu
collection DOAJ
description The utilization of iron tailings in road construction poses significant environmental risks due to the complex release mechanisms of pollutants and varying regional conditions. This study integrates an exponential decay model with an instantaneous pollutant transport model, employing Monte Carlo simulations to assess risks and regional characteristics. Results show high Potential Hazard Indices (PHIs) for arsenic, manganese, barium, nickel, and lead, with PHI values between 4.2 and 22.7. Simulations indicate that manganese and nickel concentrations may exceed groundwater standards, particularly in humid areas. The study recommends controlling the iron tailings mixing ratio based on climate, suggesting limits of 35% in humid, 60% in semi-humid, and more lenient ratios in arid and semi-arid regions. It also underscores the need for improved risk assessment methodologies and region-specific management strategies at the national level.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2305-6304
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-03f8f4f487d5440987e512a4a70228162025-08-20T03:56:46ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-07-0113760310.3390/toxics13070603Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road SubgradeXiaowei Xu0Dapeng Zhang1Jie Cao2Chaoyue Wu3Yi Wang4Jing Hua5Zehua Zhao6Jun Zhang7Qi Yu8Nanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaNanjing Institute of Environmental Science, Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, Nanjing 210042, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Science, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, ChinaThe utilization of iron tailings in road construction poses significant environmental risks due to the complex release mechanisms of pollutants and varying regional conditions. This study integrates an exponential decay model with an instantaneous pollutant transport model, employing Monte Carlo simulations to assess risks and regional characteristics. Results show high Potential Hazard Indices (PHIs) for arsenic, manganese, barium, nickel, and lead, with PHI values between 4.2 and 22.7. Simulations indicate that manganese and nickel concentrations may exceed groundwater standards, particularly in humid areas. The study recommends controlling the iron tailings mixing ratio based on climate, suggesting limits of 35% in humid, 60% in semi-humid, and more lenient ratios in arid and semi-arid regions. It also underscores the need for improved risk assessment methodologies and region-specific management strategies at the national level.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/603iron tailingsresource utilizationheavy metalrisk management
spellingShingle Xiaowei Xu
Dapeng Zhang
Jie Cao
Chaoyue Wu
Yi Wang
Jing Hua
Zehua Zhao
Jun Zhang
Qi Yu
Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
Toxics
iron tailings
resource utilization
heavy metal
risk management
title Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
title_full Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
title_fullStr Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
title_full_unstemmed Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
title_short Environmental Risk and Management of Iron Tailings in Road Subgrade
title_sort environmental risk and management of iron tailings in road subgrade
topic iron tailings
resource utilization
heavy metal
risk management
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/7/603
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