Pollution indices as useful tools for comprehensive evaluation of the soil contamination degree in the vicinity of mining and metallurgical complexes
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Date
2024
Authors
Kalinović, Jelena
Šerbula, Snežana
Kalinović, Tanja
Radojević, Ana
Jordanović, Jelena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Association of Chemical Engineers of Serbia
Source
Hemijska industrija
Volume
78
Issue
3
Abstract
Soil pollution levels in the copper mining and metallurgical area were evaluated at 14 sampling sites in the City of Bor and its surroundings in regard to Al, As, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn contents, as well as single and integrated pollution indices. The significance of single pollution indices provides information about pollution by a specific element, while integrated pollution indices offer an insight into cumulative pollution by the examined elements. The mean soil concentrations of As, Cu, Pb and Zn were several times higher than the world average values. The exceedances of soil remediation values were most pronounced for As (at seven sites) and Cu (at eleven sites), more than 3 and 13 times, respectively. According to the geoaccumulation index, the enrichment factor and the contamination factor, the highest soil contamination was with As and Cu, especially at the urban-industrial site. Pollution load index, Nemerow pollution index and the improved Nemerow index confirmed that the most contaminated soils were from the sites in the vicinity of the metallurgical complex and flotation tailing ponds, as well as from the sites in the prevailing wind directions compared to the less polluted soils affected by the ore mining processes. The areas affected by the serious cumulative contamination from the pyrometallurgical copper production need continuous pollution prevention, monitoring and remediation measures.
Description
Keywords
Environmental pollution, soil quality, single and integrated soil pollution indices
Citation
DOI
10.2298/HEMIND23053007K
Scopus
ISSN
2217-7426
0367-598X
0367-598X
ISBN
License
CC-BY