Combined environmental and natural disaster risk assessment of tailing ponds in China and diverse responses analysis

Given the complexity of the environmental risks associated with tailings ponds (TPs) and the increasing impact of natural disasters in China, establishing a combined environmental and disaster risk assessment framework for TPs is crucial. Most existing studies have been limited to specific regions or individual TPs, leaving the national risk characteristics of TPs unclear. To address these gaps, this study developed an environmental risk assessment database, covering 7,232 TPs in China. A combined analytic hierarchy process and entropy weight method was used to construct the risk assessment framework, which integrates inherent hazard levels, control mechanisms, environmental sensitivity, and disaster impacts. The national-scale evaluation revealed that 21.93% of the TPs in China, primarily located in southern China and the Qinling Mountains, face high risks. High inherent hazard levels, such as mineral species and operational status, are major contributors to these elevated environmental risks. Rainstorms and landslides have a compounded effect on the TPs' environmental risks, exacerbating them, particularly in Yunnan and Hunan. In contrast, the spatial distribution of TPs does not coincide with areas of high peak ground acceleration, thereby reducing the potential impact of seismic activity on TPs. In summary, this study provides a scientific basis for the risk management and natural disasters adaptation of TPs in China. Considering the compounded effect of rainstorm on the environmental risks of TPs, the importance of addressing the impacts of climate change, warranting attention.