engleski

Distribution of trace metals in surface waters and artesian well waters from war-affected regions of Croatia

Metals in natural waters exist in very low concentrations, so, for its determination very sensitive techniques have to be used. Moreover, the techniques which provide multielemental analysis are favourable ones. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) is the technique which fullfils such criteria. This part of our work consisted of the determination of dissolved trace metals in surface waters and artesian well waters situated in Croatian ex-war zones with the aim of monitoring of possible war consequences by metal contamination. For this purpose, we developed the method for determination of ca. 20 metals by mean of the HR ICPMS (high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Thus, the list of the metals which we collected the results for contains: Li, Be, Mo, Cd, Sn, Ba, Tl, Pb, Bi, U, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, As and Se. The examined surface water samples originated from Croatian ex-war zones such as Slavonia, Lika and Banovina. More precisely, we have payed our attention to the rivers Sava, Dunav, Drava, Kupa, Una and lakes Plitvička jezera. Also, the water samples from a certain numbers of artesian wells from war-affected regions have been examined. Generally, it has been observed that trace metal levels in the surface water samples are below maximal allowed concentration values in our country [1]. On the other hand, the concentration levels that we found in the analyzed samples of artesian well waters are usually bellow maximal allowed concentrations [1] and in between the ranges reported in the literature [2]. Finally, these results suggest that ten years after the end of the war in Croatia, there is no evidence of the contamination of the surface and artesian well waters by trace metals as a consequence of the military activities.

metals ; war-related contamination ; Croatia

nije evidentirano