Mining activities have emerged as major contributors to environmental damage. This paper offers an analyse of the actual situation of environmental damages caused by mining activities in Europe. Alarmingly, pollution from mining activities in the European Union is increasing. Surface and underground mining have detrimental effects on air and water quality, land degradation, waste disposal, noise pollution, deforestation and loss of biodiversity, endangered species, microbiota, economy, and health. Moreover, the risk of dam destruction because of climate change is increased. Globally this fact ranked Europe in second place in terms of dangerousness. The situation of protected species is critical and their status remains poor. The rehabilitation cost is exorbitant, and enforcement of regulations is lacking. It is evident that, due to economic demand for metals, mining will playa central role in EU's future despite the growing emphasis on green initiatives and transition. Unfortunately, public awareness regarding environmental impact of mining activities is insufficient, and their voices are often disregarded. In order to reduce the negative impact of mining on the environment, economy and public health, it is necessary to take urgent political and technical measures. This paper aims to present a comprehensive overview and offer suggestions for future actions.

Forty soil and lichen samples and sixteen soil horizon samples were collected in the mining and surrounding areas of the Yamal-Nenets autonomous region (Russian Arctic). The positive matrix factorization (PMF) model was used for the source identification of PAHs. The results of the source identification showed that the mining activity was the major source of PAHs in the area, and that the mining influenced the surrounding natural area. The 5+6-ring PAHs were most abundant in the mining area. The lichen/soil (LAS) results showed that 2+3-ring and 4-ring PAHs could be transported by air and accumulated more in lichens than in the soil, while 5+6-ring PAHs accumulated more in the soil. Strong relationships between the quotient of soil/lichen (Q(SL)) and Log K-OA and Log P-L and between the quotient of lichen/histic horizon soil and K-OW were observed. In addition, hydrogeological conditions influenced the downward transport of PAHs. Particularly surprising is the discovery of the high levels of 5 + 6 rings in the permafrost table (the bottom of the active layer). One hypothesis is given that the global climate change may lead to further depth of active layer so that PAHs may migrate to the deeper permafrost. In the impact area of mining activities, the soil inventory for 5+6-ring PAHs was estimated at 0.14 +/- 0.017 tons on average. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.