Monitoring of air pollution with heavy metals in the vicinity of a ferronickel smelter plant by deposited dust

Authors

  • Katerina Bačeva Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University „St. Kiril and Metodij", POB 162, 91000 Skopje, Macedonia
  • Trajče Stafilov Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University „St. Kiril and Metodij", POB 162, 91000 Skopje, Macedonia
  • Robert Šajn Geological Survey of Slovenia, Dimičeva ulica 14, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59194/MJEE12141-2047b

Keywords:

Heavy metals, air pollution, deposited dust, nickel, Kavadarci

Abstract

Comprehensive monitoring was applied to assess environmental pollution in the vicinity of a ferronickel smelter plant in Kavadarci (Republic of Macedonia) and its environs. The total dust deposition is a very useful method to follow the increased presence of some chemical elements in the atmosphere as a result of anthropogenic activities. The data from such surveys allow for assessing both spatial and temporal trends in heavy metal deposition and an examination of the areas with higher deposition of heavy metals. In order to determine the daily amounts of fine dust contained in the air, samples of total deposited matter (deposited dust) were collected at three locations in the area. The total quantity of deposited dust was monitored monthly for a period of one year. In total 18 elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) were determined by two complementary analytical techniques: atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP) and electrotermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS). Based on the comparison of distribution patterns of elements determined in attic and deposited dust, one anthropogenic geohemical association (Co-Cr-Fe-Ni) was detected in the investigated region which is a result of the activities of a ferronickel metallurgical plant.

Downloads

Published

2012-12-31

How to Cite

Bačeva, K., Stafilov, T., & Šajn, R. (2012). Monitoring of air pollution with heavy metals in the vicinity of a ferronickel smelter plant by deposited dust . Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment, 14(1-2), 47–57. https://doi.org/10.59194/MJEE12141-2047b

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1-2 (2012): Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2012 Katerina Bačeva, Trajče Stafilov, Robert Šajn

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment applies the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Creative Commons License license to articles and supplementary material we publish. If you submit your paper for publication to Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment, you agree to have the CC BY license applied to your work. Under this Open Access license, you as the author agree that anyone can reuse your article in whole or part for any purpose, for free, even for commercial purposes. Anyone may copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format as long as the author and original source are properly cited. This facilitates freedom in re-use and also ensures that Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment content can be mined without barriers for the needs of research.

Author - the holder of copyrights is encouraged to sign and return the Copyright form prior to the publication of the scientific article.

Licencing:

Creative Commons License
Macedonian Journal of Ecology and Environment is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.