engleski

Impact of Past Industrial Activity on the Content of Heavy Metals in the Soil/Grass System in Šibenik (Croatia)

The objective of this study was chemical/mineralogical characterization of soil samples affected by the dust emission and slag dumping from ferro-manganese smelter and ex- aluminium factory as well as uptake of metals by vegetation growing on that soil. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) was used for the determination of elemental concentrations in soil, vegetation and different soil extracts while mineralogical composition of soil samples was determined by XRD analysis. Results of chemical and statistical analyses together with calculated enrichment factors indicate that smelter and aluminium factory caused the severe heavy metal pollution of its surroundings which is still visible thirteen years after the production was ceased. Iron was the main component of metallurgical slag deposited near the smelter. Slag material was highly enriched in Zn, Cr, Cu, Co and Pb. Enrichment of the elements in soil samples taken in the vicinity of the smetler ranging from 3.5 to approximatly 166 times compared to background soil samples. Fortunately, elements taken from contaminated soil are strongly bound to the mineral soil components resulting in low degree of leaching and low heavy metal uptake by vegetation growing on that soil.

ferromanganese smelter ; aluminium plant ; heavy metals ; EDXRF ; enrichment factors

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