Assessment of water quality under real-world conditions: effects of steel slag backfills on ground and surface water

Abstract

The effects of using large amounts of steel slag as fill materials on surface water and groundwater quality were evaluated under real-world conditions in Vietnam. Leachates from steel slag and groundwater around a construction site were collected, analyzed, and compared with the threshold values specified in the National Technical Regulations on Industrial Wastewater and Groundwater Quality. Although the steel slag contains trace amounts of heavy metals and radioactive materials, it was confirmed that all contaminants were within acceptable limits after nine months. Although further long-term measurements are required, it is evident that steel slag is a promising alternative to natural resources used at construction sites. Because such large-scale experiments under real-world conditions are not readily available, this study provides useful information for reusing similar industrial wastes for construction and other applications.