Mining and its Impacts on Environment and Health with Special Reference to Ballari District, Karnataka, India

Mining has played a significant role in the development of a country. The financial progress of various nations depends on the production and use of minerals which leads to the expansion of mining activities. Ballari district has rich mineral resources and is known for iron ore deposits. As iron ore is an essential raw material for the iron and steel industry, many Iron and Steel plants are established in Ballari district. In this study, the impacts of iron ore mining on environmental issues such as air, water, soil, and health on the population are reviewed. The review reports that the concentrations of NO2, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 are greater in the core zone of Subbarayanahalli iron ore mine located in Hospet-Ballari sector. The PM10 level exceeds the NAAQS limits of 100 µg/m3 at different locations of 10kms radius of Ballari city. The surface water bodies around Sandur, Torangallu and Taranagar are silted and contaminated by mining waste. The airborne dust produced during mining activities decreased crop productivity and affected human health. The main conclusion from the review is that more research should be needed to assess the environmental impacts and emphasize sustainable mining operations in association with Government and mining research activities.