Assessment of ambient air quality in coal mine waste areas — a case study in Fuxin, China

摘要

Abstract An extension of the matter‐element method was applied to estimate ambient air quality in Haizhou opencast colliery in Fuxin coal mine. Air pollutants data such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, total suspended particulates, particulate matter and dustfall were collected at four different air‐quality monitoring stations located in four districts around the Fuxin colliery. Results show that total suspended particulates, particulate matter <10 μm, dustfall and sulphur dioxide were the predominant pollutants. Other pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides were also detected at the Fuxin colliery. Air pollution came mainly from industrial emissions, mining activities and abandoned gangue stockpiles (mine tailings). Compared to those applied to other mathematical assessment methods, it was demonstrated that the extension of the matter‐element model was quite appropriate for air quality assessment.