Naslov
Thallium Content in Zagreb Air

Autori
Hršak, Janko ; Škrbec, Alen ; Balagović, Ivica ; Šega, Krešimir

Izvornik
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (0007-4861) 71 (2003); 131-134

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
air pollution; soil pollution; building deterioration

Sažetak
Thallium is present in raw materials and can significantly increase environmental exposure on local and regional level (IPCS, 1996). It is present in the air in relatively small amounts and in most countries it is not included in general monitoring practice. Thallium is mainly released in the air by mineral smelters, power-generating plants, and cement plants (ATSDR, 1992). Deterioration of building material could be considered as a significant source of thallium contamination in urban areas. The main source of thallium is the re-dispersion of dust from the contaminated soil as a disperse pollution source, covering an entire city. The only cement plant in Zagreb was the main source of thallium and was shut down approximately 15 years ago, so we can assume that no significant new deposition occurred during the last decade. The contribution of two large power plants with 200 meter smokestacks as point sources which disperse the pollution over vast areas may be considered negligible. Croatian legislation (Ordinance, 1996) prescribes only the limit value for a monthly amount of thallium in deposited matter (a large particle fraction) there are no limit values for thallium concentrations in the ambient air (suspended particulate matter). In order to get an insight into thallium levels in the Zagreb environment, thallium content in total suspended particulate matter, and its content in deposited matter was investigated for three consecutive years at two urban sites.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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