Work

Assessment of soil quality in mining areas: Cross-analysis of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and field data in Kedougou, Senegal

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Soil contamination remains a critical yet often underestimated challenge in environmental impact assessments (EIAs) of mining projects in West Africa. This study assessed soil quality across 37 industrial and artisanal gold mining sites in the Kédougou region of Senegal. A Mining Soil Quality Index (MSQI) was developed, integrating heavy metal concentrations (As, Pb, Hg, etc.) with international and regional reference thresholds. Combined with a strategic land-use and vulnerability zoning framework, the analysis revealed widespread contamination, with nearly half (45%) of artisanal sites categorized as high-risk zones. The evaluation also exposed major inconsistencies in EIA datasets, including outdated baseline measurements, poor comparability across reports, and a lack of methodological standardization. These findings underscore the urgent need to institutionalize systematic soil monitoring programs, adopt harmonized assessment frameworks across West Africa, and integrate soil quality into Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) processes. Key words: Soil contamination, strategic zoning by land use (QSMA), artisanal mining, environmental impact assessments, land degradation, environmental governance.

Source: African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology

DOI: 10.5897/ajest2025.3362

Authors: Dieye Pathé, Niane Birane, Thiam Alassane, Diop Tidiane, Samb Mansour

Institutions: Université de Thiès, Cheikh Anta Diop University

Language: English

Topic: Heavy metals in environment

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life on land

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Ministry of Environment