Assessment of environmental impacts of active smelter operations and abandoned mines in Karabash, Ural mountains of Russia

Industrialization in the former USSR caused widespread environmental damage, which is graphically illustrated in the South Urals mining region of west-central Russia. One of the most heavily polluted areas is the town of Karabash and its surrounding area, which has abandoned mines and a large active copper smelter close to its centre. The area is affected by effluents and gaseous and particulate emissions from the smelter, acid drainage from abandoned mines and leachates and dusts from waste dumps and tailings dams. This article outlines the methodologies employed under a 3 year instrumental- and bio-monitoring assessment of mining-related impacts in Karabash, designed to be sensitive to the natural setting and specific political, sociological and economic situation in the Ural mountains. The results of the preliminary, planning stage of the project are presented and discussed. Copyright (C) 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.