Title: The influence of past metallurgical activity on the concentration of heavy metals in the soil/grass system in Sibenik (Croatia)

Authors: Visnja Orescanin, Ivanka Lovrencic Mikelic, Luka Mikelic, Mirta Rubcic, Stipe Lulic

Addresses: USKNI, Laboratory for applied nuclear analytics, A. Jaksica 30,10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' Laboratory for Radioecology, Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Bijenicka cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' Nuclear Power Plant Krsko, Vrbina 12, 8270 Krsko, Slovenia. ' Faculty of Science, Department of General and Inorganic Chemistry, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. ' USKNI, Laboratory for applied nuclear analytics, A. Jaksica 30,10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract: Degree of heavy metal pollution in soil caused by a former Ferromanganese Plant (FMP) and aluminium factory was investigated and the potential of metal mobility and bioavailability was estimated. Elemental concentrations in soil, vegetation and soil extracts were determined by EDXRF. In the nearest vicinity of the factory, soil concentrations ranged as follows: Mn 12,700-342,000 ppm, Zn 200-1090, Cu 50-440, Ni 60-330, V 60-410 and Pb 24-320 ppm. Significantly higher concentrations of V, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb compared with control samples were also found in the soil samples taken in the vicinity of aluminium plant.

Keywords: ferromanganese plants; aluminium plants; heavy metals; EDXRF; energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence; enrichment factors; environmental pollution; metallurgical activity; soil contamination; grass; Croatia; metal mobility; bioavailability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.026060

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.37 No.4, pp.437 - 449

Published online: 26 May 2009 *

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