The Detriments of Mining

It has long been recognized that mining is an industry that has a decided long-term impact on not only the ecosystem in which it occurs, but on the environment as a whole.  And the scope and size of mining operations has increased at a rapid rate since the beginning of the industrial revolution.  With the almost exponential growth of population over the past few centuries has come an increased reliance on the natural resources that lie beneath the Earth’s crust, and this has brought about a powerful industry that cares little for the damage it causes in pursuit of consumer dollars.  This, in turn, has led to major detriments for both workers and the environment at large.

First and foremost, mining impacts the entire planet on an environmental level.  At mining sites, destruction of the ecosystem is readily apparent.  Whether mines utilize procedures like mountaintop removal or they simply bore and blast holes into the Earth, they are killing off flora and fauna, forcing out wildlife, and creating a barren landscape that will remain uninhabitable indefinitely, especially since most mining operations make only minimal efforts (if any) in the way of cleanup or restoration of a site to its original, natural state.  And in truth, with all of the damage and pollution they leave in their wake, there may be little that these mining operations can do to redress the harm they have caused.

Just look at the many Superfund sites that exist in the United States (not to mention abandoned hazardous waste sites across the globe).  These regions tend to contain massive amounts of chemical toxins that are harmful to any living creature, and these pollutants are most often found in the soil and by extension, the groundwater supply.  Such contaminants common in the vicinity of former mining operations are asbestos, arsenic, mercury, thallium, BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylene, and xylene), acids, and heavy metals (just to name a few).  And these toxins not only drive out plants and wildlife in the immediate vicinity, they seep into the water supply to spread their destruction to neighboring ecosystems, including those that support human habitations.  It is pretty clear that the mining industry in general has little regard for the environments in which they operate and the damage they cause is both widespread and ongoing.

Further, there is the abuse heaped upon workers.  Recent mine collapses complete with trapped workers have made headlines over the last few years mainly because modern man is shocked to learn that these primitive and dangerous working conditions still exist in this day and age.  But in truth, mining practices have not evolved much over the last several decades.  Although more efficient and cost-effective equipment has been introduced, there is still a large human element involved, and in many countries, workers are considered both cheaper and more expendable than machinery.

And the destruction doesn’t look to end any time soon.  Just look at the proposed Pebble Mine project in Alaska.  The venture has received a lot of opposition from environmental groups worried about how contaminants from the combination open-pit and underground mine will affect wildlife in the area (mainly fish populations native to the Bristol Bay watershed), not to mention the landscape.  And although Pebble Mine Corp. has a plan to manage and contain waste, the fact that they have not even finalized the scope of the project is unsettling, to say the least.

In short, the effects of mining continue to be felt and will continue to grow until people demand change.  And considering that one such area (near the Libby Asbestos Superfund Site in Montana) was eventually declared a public health emergency due to the effects of asbestos poisoning on nearby residents, perhaps a spreading awareness of the detrimental and lasting effects of mining on people will finally lead to a call for stricter environmental regulations and increased cleanup efforts.