UCM. The colors of mining pollution

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Mining activity can be an environmental problem, affecting both soils and waters. To remediate these sites, it is necessary to propose actions that decrease the risk that heavy metals suppose both to human health and ecosystems. The proposed activity aims to spread aspects related to soil and water pollution by heavy metals as a consequence of extractive mining activities. The activity will be carried out in an environmental geochemistry laboratory, located in the Facultad of Ciencias Geológicas (UCM). The participants will learn about the main problems produced with metal mining activity and remediation measures through the color (acid waters, mining wastes…). They will work with real samples of soil and water coming from areas highly contaminated by heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium or lead. Using the color determination it is possible to analyze the effect of remediation measures in different organisms.