Naslov
Toxic airborne S, PAH, and trace element legacy of the superhighorganic- sulphur Raša coal combustion: cytotoxicity and genotoxicity assessment of soil and ash

Autori
Medunić, Gordana ; Ahel, Marijan ; Božičević Mihalić, Iva ; Gaurina Srček, Višnja ; Kopjar, Nevenka ; Fiket, Željka ; Bituh, Tomislav ; Mikac, Iva

Izvornik
Science of the total environment (0048-9697) 566–567 (2016); 306-319

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

Ključne riječi
sulphur pollution ; organic pollutants ; PIXE ; CCO cell line ; comet assay ; ecological risk

Sažetak
This paper presents the levels of sulphur, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and potentially toxic trace elements in soils surrounding the Plomin coal-fired power plant (Croatia). It used domestic superhigh-organic-sulphur Raša coal from 1970 until 2000. Raša coal was characterised by exceptionally high values of S, up to 14%, making the downwind southwest (SW) area surrounding the power plant a significant hotspot. The analytical results show that the SW soil locations are severely polluted with S (up to 4%), and PAHs (up to 13, 535 ng/g), while moderately with Se (up to 6.8 mg/kg), and Cd (up to 4.7 mg/kg). The composition and distribution pattern of PAHs in the polluted soils indicate that their main source could be airborne unburnt coal particles. The atmospheric dispersion processes of SO2 and ash particles have influenced the composition and distribution patterns of sulphur and potentially toxic trace elements in studied soils, respectively. A possible adverse impact of analysed soil on the local karstic environment was evaluated by cytotoxic and genotoxic methods. The cytotoxicity effects of soil and ash water extracts on the channel catfish ovary (CCO) cell line were found to be statistically significant in the case of the most polluted soil and ash samples. However, the primary DNA-damaging potential of the most polluted soil samples on the CCO cells was found to be within acceptable boundaries.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Fizika, Geologija, Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA