An Assessment of Hazard from Solid Industrial Wastes: A Case Study

Abstract

To assess possibility of pollution from a dump, an identification of mineralogical and chemical composition of waste material, leach experiments and field studies have been carried out. It has been found that the base layer of the dump, constructed of unstabilized slag, is an effective insulation shield preventing leaching of contaminants to the aquatic environment through the development of a slag layer impermeable to air and water and reduction conditions within the slag layer. It has also been ascertained that this material, after being mechanically crushed, becomes highly permeable, which promotes intensive leaching of toxic contaminants such as Cr⁶⁺. Therefore, destroying the dump, instead of eliminating a hazard, could cause the formation of at least two active sources of water contamination by chromium at an old and new site.