Assessing the risks associated with waste disposal is essential for environmental protection and sustainable development, especially given concerns about the impact of industrial activities on the environment. This study analyses soil contamination in the Defor Petrila tailings-dump area caused by the deposition of waste material resulting from coal exploitation. To characterise the heavy-metal contamination in detail, we applied a comprehensive methodology that includes the calculation of the geo-accumulation index (I_geo), contamination factor (Cf), and potential ecological risk index (PERI), along with an analysis of the heavy-metal concentration isolines and a statistical analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient. The results reveal varying levels of heavy-metal concentrations, as indicated by the calculated indices. The findings underscore the need for remediation and ongoing monitoring to mitigate the environmental impacts. This study provides a scientific basis for decision making in environmental management and highlights the importance of assessing mining-waste disposal near human settlements using various contamination-assessment methods.

The phytoremediation of polluted land in Romania is based on research on biodiversity, environmental protection, and the sustainable use of natural or man-made resources, carried out by universities and research institutes for over 30 years, synchronized with those at the European and global level. The aim of this paper is to establish the categories of pollutants with potential environmental, economic, and social impacts associated with mining in order to choose the optimal method of ecological reconstruction. In this regard, the Tismana quarry was mapped, the surface of the analysis plot was set at 50 m × 50 m, and the sampling depth was 0–20 cm; from each plot, two samples were collected. Out of a total of 121 analysis plots, ten susceptible plots were identified, from which 20 samples were collected and analyzed. The samples were analyzed by the UV-VIS spectrophotometer method—MLUV1720 and UV spectrometry—with a SHIMADZU UV 160U spectrophotometer; they indicated in only three analysis plots a pollution with phenols, Ni, Zn, Ni and HAP, the concentrations of which exceeded only the normal values, which does not affect the eaves threshold and intervention for the type of land use. Being point pollution, the phytoremediation of these soils can be achieved in a short time. The paper aims to present the situation of chemical pollutants in the Tismana quarry area, and to offer different ecological rehabilitation solutions depending on their presence.

Jiu Valley is in an extensive transition process from an area rich in coal deposits to an area with 0 Carbon emissions. Coal mining was carried out in 14 mining perimeters arranged along the Jiu Valley. At the same time, the extraction of the useful mineral substance resulted in waste material that was stored in tailings dumps. Out of the total of 49 landfills, 25 have been greened, 15 are inactive and 9 are active. The total area occupied by them is approximately 210 ha, arranged near mining operations, in the valleys of some streams and even in the vicinity of human settlements. The paper aims to identify the potential for soil contamination due to inactive tailings dumps.

Heavy metal contamination associated with mining activities is a major source of abiotic stress for plants, strongly affecting plant physiology, growth and survival in contaminated environments. Due to their non-biodegradable nature and long-term bioavailability, heavy metals persist in soils affected by mining activities, exposing plants to chronic stress conditions that require the activation of coordinated cellular and molecular response mechanisms to limit toxicity and maintain internal homeostasis. This review synthesises and critically analyses current knowledge on the molecular and cellular mechanisms governing plant responses to heavy metal stress in mining-affected environments. Key processes involved in metal uptake and transport, redox imbalance and oxidative stress generation, antioxidant defence systems, and molecular detoxification mechanisms, including metal chelation, subcellular compartmentalisation, and gene expression regulation, are discussed. Particular attention is paid to cellular signalling pathways that mediate plant adaptation to prolonged exposure to complex metal mixtures. Emphasis is placed on integrating molecular-level knowledge with the specific context of mining sites, highlighting the limitations of extrapolating results obtained under controlled experimental conditions to naturally contaminated environments. This perspective integrates molecular mechanisms with the geochemical realities of mining sites, providing a solid basis for the development of effective phytoremediation strategies and the optimisation of plant species selection.

In the context of growing concerns related to the impact of mining activities on the environment, the present study focuses on the analysis of the correlations between the concentrations of heavy metals in Branch 1 and 2 tailing dumps in Lupeni, using Pearson correlation coefficient matrix. Tailing dumps from mining activity can be significant sources of soil contamination with heavy metals. In this work, the waste dumps Branch 1 and 2 were taken as a case study. This dump has been inactive for about 7 years and is the result of the exploitation of the waste from Lupeni mine located in the Jiu Valley. In this study, soil samples from the two branches of the tailing dump were collected and analyzed to determine heavy metal concentrations. Using Pearson correlation coefficient, statistical relationships between the concentrations of these heavy metals were calculated, providing a detailed matrix of correlations between them. This statistical analysis can help develop more effective remediation and management strategies, lessening the long-term impact of mining activities on the environment and human health.