Integrated systematic method for health risk hierarchisation

Initiative funded by the Initiation R&D Program, year 2017, code L217-23, "Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana” Chile has the third largest number of tailings dams in the world, and this number is increasing. It is estimated to double by 2035, mainly in the central zone . The proposed method identifies the zones and locations with higher risk and allows for the design of preventive measures for towns that are close to tailings dams. Quantitative information was compared and processed, and then, a systematic integrated method for hierarchising the health risk to people based on the potential exposure to mass copper mine tailings dams with high As content was developed. The method was applied to copper mining in Chile, and regions with a high environmental hazard index caused by the geographic location of tailings dams with high As content were identified. The experimental analysis of tailings and epidemiological studies to characterise the cancer risk to population are further required to validate the causes of the illnesses identified.The method includes the assessment of the health risk to people. This allows for the identification of areas and sectors with higher risk because the method considers the environmental vulnerability of active dams, whose tailings contents are still increasing. This constitutes a risk management tool to ensure the sustainable management of tailings dams.本项目由2017年度启动研发计划资助，项目编号L217-23，依托智利都会科技大学（Universidad Tecnológica Metropolitana）实施。 智利尾矿坝（tailings dam）的数量位居全球第三，且该数值仍在持续增长，预计到2035年将实现翻倍，新增尾矿坝主要集中于中部地区。 本研究提出的方法可识别高风险区域与点位，能够为尾矿坝周边城镇制定预防性措施提供支撑。 通过对比与处理量化信息，本研究开发出一套系统性集成方法，可基于高砷（As）含量大型铜矿尾矿坝的潜在暴露风险，对人群健康风险进行分级排序。 将该方法应用于智利铜矿开采场景后，研究识别出了因高砷尾矿坝地理位置导致环境危害指数偏高的区域。 后续需进一步开展尾矿实验分析与流行病学研究，以验证所识别疾病的致病诱因，明确人群癌症风险特征。 该方法涵盖人群健康风险评估模块，可识别高风险区域与功能区块；由于该方法充分考量了尾矿储量仍在持续增长的在用尾矿坝的环境脆弱性，因此能够精准定位高风险对象。 该方法可作为风险管理工具，为尾矿坝的可持续化管理提供有力支撑。