Environmental geochemistry studies to assess the ecological risks of gold mining activities in Egypt

الملخص EN

For any industry to be successful it is to identify the Hazards to assess the associated ecological risks and to bring the risks to tolerable level.

As the part of the Study work, Environmental Measurements for Air Quality, hazard identification and risk analysis was carried out for Sukari Gold Mines (SGM) is located in the south-easterly region of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, The Air Quality Monitoring measurements and Noise Intensity levels were done for all SGM operations at 39 locations were evaluated in SGM by measuring the Risk and Hazards in different workplaces of the site.

Particulate Matters (PM10), harmful gases such as carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and ammonia (NH₃) were measured at Work and ambient environment.

There are Seven 7 workplaces have noise levels greater than the Egyptian Environmental Low (EEL4/94)-8 hrs.

Exposure Limits guideline.

The highest noise levels were found in the Power Generators House (107 dB), Control measures to reduce noise levels are considered in these sites by using the PPE and decrease the exposure limits.

The PM10 maximum measured value was at 4 locations.

The greatest values was in Underground Area (4.6 mg/m³) are above (EEL4/94)-8 hrs.

Exposure Limits guideline, Reduction methods to PM10 have been applied to these sites such as water depression, and Wear the suitable PPE.

The concentrations of gases emissions were measured in 39 locations for different activities such as (CO, SO₂, NO₂, HCN and NH₃) all results within EEL4/94)-8 hrs.

Exposure Limits guideline except (CIL TANKS 1&2) and in Underground areas (1&2&3) the values of HCN are Consider highly compared with its limits assigned by the (EEL4/94) guideline.

Control programs have to be implemented to reduce the concentrations of the gasses emissions to the allowable limits.

From the study carried out in the SGM and the Hazard Index and risk rating which was made and analyzed shows that 27 workplaces have Low Risk, 1 workplace have Medium Risk and 11 workplaces have High Risk.