Risk assessment and proposed remedial actions in coastal tailings disposal sites in RomaniaRisk assessment and proposed remedial actions in coastal tailings disposal sites in Romania Peer-Reviewed Journal Publication Δημοσίευση σε Περιοδικό με Κριτές 2015-11-011998enIntensive mining and ore processing activities over the last fifty years concerning phosphate and polymetallic sulphidic ores at Navodari and Baia, by the Romanian Black Sea coast, have resulted in the production of millions of tonnes of hazardous wastes which contain high residual concentrations of heavy elements and radionuclides in mobile forms. At Navodari, where a chemical plant for the production of sulphuric acid and superphosphates operates, over 3,000,000 m3 of phosphogypsum and 1,000,000 m3 of pyritic cinders have been disposed of in several stacks and dumps. At Baia, over 1,200,000 † of copper tailings from the nearby located flotation plant have been disposed of since 1965 in three decantation ponds. Under the action of several physicochemical mechanisms, toxic elements contained in the tailings are mobilised migrate to the surroundings and cause severe and widespread contamination of soils, surface and ground waters and the Black Sea. In this paper, all the above mentioned sources of pollution that are currently directly or indirectly affecting humans, soils, freshwater ecosystems and the Black Sea, are identified and characterised Furthermore, in order to assess the level of risk posed by each source of pollution, at each affected area, a complete environmental characterisation study was undertaken followed by a risk analysis carried out on a source-pathway-target basis. Based on experimental and risk analysis data, a rehabilitation scheme is proposed for all affected areas, aiming at deactivating the pollution sources and rehabilitating the contaminated areas with remedial actions. This scheme involves mainly. removal of toxic and heavy elements from sulphidic tailings and leachates with biosorption and biosolubilisation techniques and development of a vegetative cover on phosphogypsum, cinders and sulphidic tailings.Δημοσίευση σε επιστημονικό περιοδικόhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Minerals Engineering12111179–1190 Komnitsas Konstantinos Κομνιτσας Κωνσταντινος Kontopoulos A. Lazar I. Cambridge M. Elsevier Environmental waste processing reclamation