AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TOWARDS THE DEPOLLUTION OF THE APUSENI MOUNTAINS

Romania has a long-standing tradition of mining, particularly within the Apuseni mountains area. Unfortunately, there are various negative consequences which occur as a direct and indirect result of this process, such as acid mine drainage and heavy metal pollution of air, soils, surface and underground waters. This paper proposes an integrative and interdisciplinary strategy for the depollution of acid mine drainage and heavy metal contaminated areas in the Apuseni Mountains, Romania. We aim to view the reported problems within the designated area, which occur as a result of ore exploitation, from various perspectives (environmental science and engineering, medicine, veterinary medicine). Secondly we aim to provide a plan of action for depollution. Specifically we will focus on: the treatment of tailing ponds and surface waters, soil remediation, greening of heaps of debris, mine closure, stabilization and rehabilitation. We wish to focus on efficient, technologically easy to implement solutions, which preferably use natural, indigenous materials.