Mining Tailings and their Effects on Health, Environment and Economic Development. Example of Mining Tailings in the Chacabuco-Polpaico Valley

Abstract

The existence of mining tailings in zones with agricultural activities and residencial areas affects the environment, agricultural development and health of people residing in the area and of people exposed to toxic agents present in agricultural products grown in the mining tails impact area. In the present report, these effects of mining tailings in the Chacabuco-Polpaico Valley are analyzed as an example that reproduce the situation in many other country areas, and mitigation measures are proposed to decrease these adverse effects.