A mining-specific Potential Risk Level Index (“quarRISK®”): Applicability and scope for the European extractive sector

This study introduces a novel mine-specific Potential Risk Level Index, named "quarRISK®", designed for the preliminary risk assessment of aggregate and critical raw materials (CRM) operations in the European Union. This model addresses the need for accessible tools for hierarchization and prioritization of exposure scenarios according to their relative potential to pose risks to human health or the environment. The model provides a preliminary estimation of the potential risk of extraction sites by integrating information on the toxicity of chemicals at the site, contamination potential, migration capacity, and receptor sensitivity. With a low data demand, the model classifies potential environmental risk into four levels (low, moderate, high, very high), offering valuable information for risk management and potential detailed geochemical characterizations necessary for conducting more comprehensive risk analyses (Tier 2). To assess the robustness of the model, 30 risk evaluations were conducted at two European quarries, considering both on-site and off-site exposure scenarios. The results revealed high potential risks associated with dust inhalation by workers and contaminant runoff into aquatic ecosystems, underscoring the model's utility in identifying critical environmental aspects linked to extractive activities. The primary innovation of this tool lies in its operational simplicity, positioning it as a valuable instrument for harmonizing environmental risk evaluation criteria in the extractive sector in the European Union, facilitating decision-making, and promoting the environmental sustainability of mining operations.