Environmental Issues in the Mining Industry - Essay Example

Environmental Issues in the Mining Business and Tax Justification for the Mining Industry Name Institution Introduction Mining and all its related activities have been linked to various environmental effects. This is despite the fact that mining has been able to bring about significant developments such as infrastructure and development of industries. Additionally, it has been able to lead to a higher standard of living among individuals who are working in the mining business. Mining business is very crucial to the development any country since its activities are related to the economic growth. However, at the same time there are negative effects of mining and especially towards the environment. Therefore, this essay explores the environmental issues that come because of the mining business and the justifications regarding the tax that is targeted specifically at the mining industry. Environmental Issues Air Pollution Air pollution is one of the key environmental issues that has been linked directly to the mining business. Within the mining business, air pollution has been linked to the opencast that exposes the environment to huge amounts of dust. The dust is then being transported in the environment to greater distance hence affecting a wide range of areas including animals and people. The problem that is mainly associated with the air pollution is that it does not only affect the mineworkers but also people who are found in the nearby environments as well as domestic animals and agricultural products (Boorstin, 1965). Some scholars and researchers who argue that already the environment is filled with atmospheric particles since the beginning of the world, and have disputed this effect. They argue that the atmospheric particles have not been able to impact negatively on the lives and health of the living things (Boorstin, 1965). However, this is not true based on my opinion, and this is because mining has been known to produce huge amounts of dust that have been able to give people various ailments especially respiratory diseases. Air pollution is mainly propagated by particles that are not easily managed by the respiratory organs. Therefore, dust is related to some of the diseases such as the ophthalmic conditions, which are related to the spread of pathogenic microorganisms through the dust particles. Water Pollution Water pollution is also another environmental issue that has been linked to mining activities. The pollution of water based on the mining business is both on the surface and underground water sources. The main contaminants of the water from the mining industry include the water that is used in the washing the mine products, the chemicals that are used as well as the leachate that is involved that runs on to the surface and to the underground water sources (Ali, 2003). Some of the opponents argue that water pollution is not mainly caused by the mining business. They have argued that even on a normal rainy day there is contamination of the water and mainly by the runoff due to soil erosion. Therefore, the blame should not mainly be put on mining (Ali, 2003). However, based on my understanding, Sulfides are also a common water pollutant when it comes to mining activities, and it is due to acidity nature of the soil. In many areas, the soil is the major cause of the water pollution, and this is because it mainly causes the run off the oil through soil erosion. Thus, water pollution is eminent in areas that are characterized by high mining activities since it is not necessary for the rain only to induce soil erosion. Thus, the mining effluents mainly contaminate water. Noise pollution Mining activities have always been blamed on the rise in the noise pollution, and this is mainly in opened casts mining areas. The noise is always of high intensity, and it has been able to cause many health problems to the people who are found in the neighboring g environments. The high noises that are generated in the mining industry are also able to cause poor communication among people in the mining areas, hence influencing negatively on the work performance of the individuals who are involved. This happens since communication is an integral part to having a positive work experience (Heiss and Oeggl, 2008). Others have argued that the concept of noise pollution is high on daily basis especially in African countries. The argument is based on the transport system that generates too much noise but is has not received any blame and yet is can cause hearing impairment and also affect communications among individuals (Vaden and Prevost, 2002). Well, my understanding is that the noise that is produced by mining activities is higher as compared to that is being produced by the transport system. This is because mining always involves the explosions of objects such as rocks that tend to be noisy within short periods that can led to serious health problems. Mining always tends to occur in areas that are far from human settlement. Therefore, it can affect the fauna in these areas, and it is believed that animals are always sensitive when it comes to high noise intensities. The drilling that tends to occur in the mining business always affects the ear diaphragm of the mineworkers and people who are found within the surrounding environments. This is based on the findings of a study conducted by Vaden and Prevost (2002). Land degradation Mining and especially opencast mining has been found to have an impact on the land, and the effect is related to the degradation of the land due to the extraction of minerals. The significant effects of mining on the land include the changes in the topography that leads to drastic changes when it comes to the drainage system of the land. Another effect that is related to mining is changes in the slope and the stability of the land, and this mainly leads to high cases of mudslides. On the other hand, other scholars and researcher have blamed land degradation on an array of factors other than mining. It has been linked to improper disposal of waste materials on the land as well as poor agricultural techniques that have been able to make the land’s topography weak (Lankton, 1991). Land degradation based on my knowledge of science is mainly attributed to mining methods applied on land. Mining is often accompanied with a vibration that affects the structure of soil the ends up degrading the land. For instance, research by Ali (2003).indicates that blanket mining spoils the agricultural and grazing land in the surrounding environments as well as changing the patterns of the land structure that in turn affects its use. Occupational Human Health Problems Mining business has been linked to occupational health problems, and this is mainly related to opencast mining as compared to underground mining. Occupational health is a significant aspect when it comes to the environment where the workers are exposed. Miners are always exposed to high concentrations of the dust that are as a result of mining activities, and this has been found to be the major cause of the occupational health problems. The main health-related cases are connected to skin and respiratory areas of the body. Mineworkers often face serious health effects, and this increases with increase in the mining activities. Other health problems that are related to the mining business includes hearing problems as results from the heavy noise such as the blasting of rocks (West, 1970). Although some of the chronic cases that are blamed on mining activities have been disputed by some researchers. Health conditions such as silicosis have been indicated to be associated with other factors in life such as one being exposed to silicon dust in their life for a long period. The dispute is that one cannot have the condition after working in the mines for a short period (Jayanta, 2007). However, based on my understanding, most of the health workers develop some of the diseases such as hearing impairment and skin conditions due to their exposure to the mining activities. Regarding silicosis conditions research available data by Ali 92003) have indicated that people often develop this condition due to their exposure to silicon dust, which is a primary product of mining activities. Thus, either those who have the condition have been mineworkers or they have lived near mining activities. Mining Tax Justifications The environmental effects of mining based on the analysis of the essay have been found to be extreme, and this is because they have adverse negative effects on the environment as well as on the health of the individuals. The effects have prompted many countries to some up with tax systems specifically for the mining industry. The tax measure have been adopted to ensure that there is the regulation of the mining activities with the aim of reducing the negative effects that it has on the environment (Aryee, Ntibery and Atorkui, 2003). The effects on the environment indeed justify the need for the tax measures. For instance in the United States, there is high taxation of the materials that are being used in the mining business, and this is to discourage mining activities with the aim of having only limited but necessary mining activities going on. In China, tax on mining business has seen a reduction in environmental degradation by 40%, hence deeming it importance of having the mining business tax (Bruno and Heaman, 2004). Conclusion Mining presents an array of environmental issues as indicated in the essay, the environmental issues are related to various negative effects such as water, air and noise pollution, land degradation as well as occupational health reacted issues. The effects are diverse and of high magnitude, due to the nature of the effects and their potential threats, the essay has been able to establish that the tax that is levied on the mining business is justified. Through the tax, some of the effects on the environment have been reduced drastically especially in countries such as China that have experienced a positive change in the environment. References Ali, S. H. (2003). Mining, the Environment and Indigenous Development Conflicts. Tucson AZ: University of Arizona Press. Aryee, B., Ntibery, B., and Atorkui, E. (2003). Trends in the small-scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana: a perspective on its environmental impact. Journal of Cleaner Production 11:131-140 Boorstin, D.J. (1965). The Americans: The National Experience. New York: Vintage  Bruno, L. & Heaman, L.M. (2004). Structural controls on hypozonal oroganic gold mineralization in the La Rouge Domain, Trans-Hudson Orogen, Saskatchewan. The Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 41(12): 1453-1471. Heiss, A.G., and Oeggl, K. (2008). Analysis of the fuel wood used in Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age copper mining sites of the Schwaz and Brixlegg area (Tyrol, Austria).Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 17(2):211-221 Jayanta, B. (2007). Principles of Mine Planning (2nd ed.). London: Wide Publishing. Lankton, L. (1991). Cradle to Grave: Life, Work, and Death at the Lake Superior Copper Mines. New York: Oxford University Press. Shaw, I. (2000). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press Vaden, H.E., and Prevost. G. (2002). Politics of Latin America: The Power Game. New York: Oxford University Press West, G.A. (1970). Copper: its mining and use by the aborigines of the Lake Superior Region. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press. Read More

Some of the opponents argue that water pollution is not mainly caused by the mining business. They have argued that even on a normal rainy day there is contamination of the water and mainly by the runoff due to soil erosion. Therefore, the blame should not mainly be put on mining (Ali, 2003). However, based on my understanding, Sulfides are also a common water pollutant when it comes to mining activities, and it is due to acidity nature of the soil. In many areas, the soil is the major cause of the water pollution, and this is because it mainly causes the run off the oil through soil erosion.

Thus, water pollution is eminent in areas that are characterized by high mining activities since it is not necessary for the rain only to induce soil erosion. Thus, the mining effluents mainly contaminate water. Noise pollution Mining activities have always been blamed on the rise in the noise pollution, and this is mainly in opened casts mining areas. The noise is always of high intensity, and it has been able to cause many health problems to the people who are found in the neighboring g environments.

The high noises that are generated in the mining industry are also able to cause poor communication among people in the mining areas, hence influencing negatively on the work performance of the individuals who are involved. This happens since communication is an integral part to having a positive work experience (Heiss and Oeggl, 2008). Others have argued that the concept of noise pollution is high on daily basis especially in African countries. The argument is based on the transport system that generates too much noise but is has not received any blame and yet is can cause hearing impairment and also affect communications among individuals (Vaden and Prevost, 2002).

Well, my understanding is that the noise that is produced by mining activities is higher as compared to that is being produced by the transport system. This is because mining always involves the explosions of objects such as rocks that tend to be noisy within short periods that can led to serious health problems. Mining always tends to occur in areas that are far from human settlement. Therefore, it can affect the fauna in these areas, and it is believed that animals are always sensitive when it comes to high noise intensities.

The drilling that tends to occur in the mining business always affects the ear diaphragm of the mineworkers and people who are found within the surrounding environments. This is based on the findings of a study conducted by Vaden and Prevost (2002). Land degradation Mining and especially opencast mining has been found to have an impact on the land, and the effect is related to the degradation of the land due to the extraction of minerals. The significant effects of mining on the land include the changes in the topography that leads to drastic changes when it comes to the drainage system of the land.

Another effect that is related to mining is changes in the slope and the stability of the land, and this mainly leads to high cases of mudslides. On the other hand, other scholars and researcher have blamed land degradation on an array of factors other than mining. It has been linked to improper disposal of waste materials on the land as well as poor agricultural techniques that have been able to make the land’s topography weak (Lankton, 1991). Land degradation based on my knowledge of science is mainly attributed to mining methods applied on land.

Mining is often accompanied with a vibration that affects the structure of soil the ends up degrading the land. For instance, research by Ali (2003).indicates that blanket mining spoils the agricultural and grazing land in the surrounding environments as well as changing the patterns of the land structure that in turn affects its use. Occupational Human Health Problems Mining business has been linked to occupational health problems, and this is mainly related to opencast mining as compared to underground mining.

Read More