Toxicant from waste minerals

Japanese: 鉱毒 - こうどく（英語表記）toxicant from waste minerals

Toxic substances contained in wastewater and flue gas from mineral processing at mines and metal refineries. The main components are high concentrations of sulfides and heavy metals in wastewater, and sulfur oxides and heavy metals in flue gas. The most serious mining damage occurs when wastewater mixes with irrigation water and causes damage to crops. The Ashio Copper Mine and Watarase River Basin mine pollution incidents are typical examples. The flue gas from the Besshi Copper Mine also became a problem for a time. In addition, companies were held responsible for the Itai-itai disease caused by Mitsui Mining & Smelting in Toyama and the cadmium rice caused by Toho Zinc Annaka Smelter. Contamination from mine poisoning often accumulates over a long period of time.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

鉱山，金属精錬所における鉱物処理の廃水・排煙中に含まれる有毒物質。廃水中の高濃度の硫化物や重金属など，排煙中の硫黄酸化物や重金属などがおもな成分となる。廃水は灌漑水に混ることによって作物に被害を与える場合が鉱害としていちばん大きく，足尾銅山と渡良瀬川流域の鉱毒事件はその典型。別子銅山の排煙も一時問題となった。また，三井金属鉱業による富山のイタイイタイ病，東邦亜鉛安中精錬所によるカドミウム米などでは企業責任をとらされた。鉱毒による汚染は蓄積が長期にわたることが多い。

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