Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template
Title of Research Study: Assessment of the Effects of Acid Mine Drainage on Mogpog River Ecosystem, Marinduque, Philippines, and Possible Impacts on Human Communities
Lead Research Institute :
Principal Investigators:
Source of Funding Support:
Period Covered for the Study:
Institute for Environmental Conservation and Research, Ateneo de Naga University
Dr. Emelina G. Regis
Oxfam Australia
June 2004 – April 2005
Over-all Objective/s of the Study: The purpose of the present study is to find out the extent of the damage resulting from the past mining operations of Marcopper Mining Corporation. The researcher intends to relate Acid Mine Drainage
(AMD) already occurring in the area with the biophysical condition of Mogpog River. Specifically, the study focuses on a) heavy metal contamination of soil along the riverbanks; and the b) effects of AMD on living organisms through indicator species.
Research Methodologies Employed: Survey In-depth Interview Focus Group Discussion Others________________
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Vegetational Analyses
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Soil Sampling
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Heavy Metal Sampling
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Pollen Grain Analyses
Mogpog River and Dawis River in the Island of Marinduque Unit and Local of the Study:
Findings and Recommendations
Significant Findings
Acid mine drainage (AMD) that is brought about by natural processes in the siltation dam, a waste dump of Placer Dome-Marcopper Mines, is the most possible cause of pollution and destruction not only of the river water in Mogpog, but also of the soils in the riparian habitats in the riverbank. Heavy metals leached out by AMD also caused loss of productivity of plants through pollen grain abortion. It also altered the plankton composition of the river.
Acid water leached out heavy metals from the dam and deposited them into the lower reaches of Mogpog River. This fact cannot be denied because wastewater that drips into the tunnel below the
Maguila-guila siltation dam and those that overflows from the siltation dam have been channeled into Mogpog River for disposal as well as to ease pressure build-up from the dam especially during the rainy
Recommendations or Implications
Based on the results of this study, the following scenario in the future can be expected in Mogpog River ecosystem:
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Contaminated tailings from the dam and beyond it will continue to be deposited downstream during heavy rainfall and threaten human habitations and livelihood.
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The increased level of heavy metal pollution in soil and plants may reach above the critical range. This situation will be brought about by continuous deposition of the pollutants through water transport downstream where human settlements are concentrated, by wind as dust during the drier months or by horizontal movement of the metals from the water edge spreading inward in the riparian zone where people plant their crops.

Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template season. Thus, heavy metals will continue to accumulate in the river ecosystem unless remediation can successfully be implemented. To date however, there is still no remediation of AMD under the present technology. All recommendations are still based on experimental procedures and no success stories have been shown under actual field condition in affected mine sites in tropical countries like the
Philippines. In addition, experimental remediation has not included the impacts on human communities in terms of health and sustainable livelihood not connected with mining activities.
The future scenario therefore is bleak for the people of Mogpog and other villages that settled along the riparian zone of the river unless rehabilitation of the river to its productive condition can by done by the company responsible for this mining disaster. With the destruction of the Mogpog River ecosystem, and the impending disaster that looms ahead from the huge amount of tailings still waiting to go down from the waste dumps in the mining area, no amount of money can compensate for the ecosystem destruction brought about by irresponsible mining and what the people will endure for a long time.
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Reduction in agricultural productivity due to toxic effects of heavy metals in soil and plants. This event will likely occur because of increasing acidity of soil from the water edge towards the riparian zone. Similarly, the increasing acidity will kill soil organisms (micro and macro) that are responsible for facilitating the release of nutrients from organic matter in the soil.
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Reduction in the productivity of fishing grounds within the vicinity of the outfall of Mogpog River. Siltation is the major hazard that will cause fish kills by burial or choking of aquatic organisms. Toxic level of heavy metal will finish off the rest of the organisms that survived siltation and those that happen to visit the place.
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Heavy metals in fishery resources will spread to other marine organisms via the food chain. In time, major fishery resources will accumulate toxic metals in their bodies and can also reach man through the food chain pathway.
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The increased level of toxic heavy metals that might accumulate in people may cause a variety of health problems experienced by people. Similarly animals, especially livestock and domestic non-food animals will show symptoms of health problems. Accumulation of heavy metals in the body will be brought about by the movement of metals through the food chain, or through regular drinking of contaminated water from the river or wells near Mogpog River. The increased concentration of metals in the body is due to the fact that most metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury attach to the sulfur of the protein cysteine, a natural constituent of the body
(Fergusson, 1990). Although naturally low in concentration,
Cadmium may pose another serious health problem because it is absorbed readily but is eliminated slowly in the body
(Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of
Toxicology, 1999)

Mindanao Action Points Advocacy Coordinating Group
Mining Research Databanking Template
Other observations in Mogpog river system show that silt and deposition of tailings coming from the dam will continue to happen during heavy rainfall due to the huge volume of tailings that have accumulated and continually fill up the Maguila-guila dam.
INECAR, Ateneo de Naga University Submitted by:
Date Submitted: May 18, 2015
Contact Details of the Research Institute: Inecar.adnu@gmail.com
/ (054) 473-8447 loc. 2217