Natural phytomelioration of coal mine waste heaps in the context of increased radiation background (on the case of Nadiya mine, Lviv-Volyn coal basin, Ukraine)

Abstract At the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow in autumn 2021, world leaders and participants decided to phase out coal power. Ukraine is committed to shutting down its state-owned coal-fired power plants by 2035. Natural and technical geosystems in coal mining areas have a significant impact on environmental and anthropogenic environmental safety and require comprehensive research This scientific article delves into the thorough examination of the impact of augmented radiation levels in the waste piles of the Nadiya mine in the Lviv-Volyn coal basin. The exploitation of the Lviv-Volyn coal basin has led to many negative changes in the flora and fauna, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere, and has significantly affected the life and health of the Ukrainian population. The Nadiya mine waste heaps are located on the outskirts of the town of Sosnivka, Chervonohrad district, Lviv region (Ukraine) on fluvioglacial sands, partially on alluvial sediments of the Western Bug River. The height of the waste heaps is over 42 m and the area is 12 hectares. The spoil heap is bounded by woody vegetation on both sides and agricultural land on the other. The spoil heap is composed of burnt and unburnt rocks with sulfuric acid zones on the burnt pieces. Spontaneous combustion is observed on the spoil heap, in particular at the top, where the radiation background was investigated. The radiation power at the top of the spoil heap was found to be significantly higher than in other areas. The investigations of the radiation background of the Nadiia mine spoil heap showed the equivalent dose rate at the top of the heap, which is 0.42 μ Sv/h, exceeding the permissible standards of 0.3 μ Sv/h. It should be noted that the excess radiation background is due to the combustion of rock.