Street Dust (SD) acts as a sink and source of atmospheric particles containing Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) and can pose a possible pathway of PTEs to human bodies. Comprehensive SD study, where 249 samples were collected from rural, urban and industrialized areas aimed to increase the understanding of the correlations between sedimentation of atmospheric dust derived from anthropogenic activities and elemental composition of SD. Elemental composition for 53 elements (ICP-MS, aqua regia digestion) was determined on fraction (0.063?mm. Significantly increased levels of Sn-Cu-Sb-Bi-Ag-Ba-Mo-Pt-Pb and other elements have been detected in urban environments, compared to the rural ones. SEM/EDS investigation identified that main carriers of Ba, Cu and Sn are most likely particles derived from non-exhaust traffic emissions. Areas around steel mills show a strong enrichment with Cr, Mo, Ni and W, which exponentially decreases with the increased distance from the plant, reaching corresponding urban background 15 and 20?km from the source. SEM/EDS inspection identified spherical and melted irregular particles as the main carriers of the above-mentioned elements.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2935893
This study presents a statistical comparison between the in-situ measurements of the elemental composition of street dust and a forest health status classification derived from aerial hyperspectral image data (HyMap). Combining these two methods allowed us to indirectly pinpoint at a high spatial resolution the atmospheric dust emissions and its effects in a study area around the open-pit lignite mine in Sokolov, Czech Republic. The results reveal a statistically significant relationship between increased Al, Na, Li and Sr levels in street dust and decreased forest-health status, and the highest number of statistically significant correlations within a 100 m distance from the street-dust-sampling points. Variations in lithological composition were unable to sufficiently explain these changes, therefore anthropogenic factors like dust emissions from coal mining and coal combustion, as well as urbanisation and other industries might be the reason for this linkage. Such studies are a crucial step in developing new high spatial resolution methods for determining atmospheric dust deposition and their effects.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2833237
The article presents an investigation of sources of metal pollutants in indoor dust in Žerjav area, Meža Valley, on the basis of lead and sulphur isotope composition of house dust, in comparison to isotopic composition of used Pb-acid battery, local Pb ore (galena) and local mine-waste material, and mineralogical, morphological and chemical analysis of individual particles. An assessment of contributions of various Pb sources for the pollution was also made. Mineralogically, attic dust consists mainly of gypsum, anhydrite and metal-bearing particles, while in the household dust carbon-bearing particles strongly prevail over metal-bearing particles. Sulphur isotope composition of sulphides and sulphates in indoor dust showed that sulphides and sulphates in attic dust originate from past primary smelting of local sulphide ore, while those in household dust originate directly from local mine-waste material. According to lead isotope ratios, lead-bearing particles in indoor dust originate mostly from past mining and primary smelting of local lead ore. Individual metal-bearing particles were apportioned to phases from past Pb-smelting, present-day Pb-recycling, and past mining/mine-waste mechanical processing. Calculated source contribution of metal-bearing phases to indoor dust showed that primary Pb-smelting was important pollution source in the past, while active Pb-recycling has contributed only negligible amount of material to date. The material from mining/mine-waste processing is an important currently active pollution source in the Žerjav area. Study demonstrated that combination of analyses of individual particle characteristics and isotopic composition of indoor dust serves as a tool for assessment of sources and source contribution of past and recent airborne metal pollution.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2897749
The area of NE, and E Slovenia consist of sedimentary rocks, which were formed in the Pannonian Basin System. They represent an important potential target for exploitation of hydrothermal energy and fossil fuels. In the research project, these types of rocks were investigated in the area of the Slovenj Gradec Basin, which represent marginal part of the Pannonian Basin System and the Central Paratethys. The depositional environment, provenance, and the tectonic setting were determined. During the Miocene (between 17.2 and 14.2 Ma), sediments deposited in terrestrial, brackish and shallow marine environments at the passive margin, in connection to the formation and evolution of the Pannonian Basin System. Further evolution of the Slovenj Gradec basin points to the strong paleogeographic changes during the last 14 Ma. The research was selected as one of the eight most prominent achievements in the field of natural science and technology in the year 2018 (Excellent in Science 2018), by the ARRS. The research provides new information about the past geological processes in the investigated area, which are directly correlated with its current geomorphology. The results of the study provide basis for further research, which will enable a more detailed reconstruction of the paleogeographic evolution of the area, thereby raising their applicational value, especially in terms of exploitation of non-metallic mineral resources, drinking and geothermal water, and geohazards.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1370206
The paper presents overview of physical and chemical changes to the landscape at four sites in Slovenia (Idrija, Meža Valley, Celje, Drava River alluvial plain) due to historical mining and smelting activities. A comparison with similar sites around the world in different landscapes and climates showed that major sources of contamination are the erosion of mine and ore processing wastes and atmospheric emissions of metal-containing particles from smelters. We discovered that the erosion and sediment deposition of mine and ore processing wastes is controlled by rainfall pattern and river gradient, while atmospheric emissions of metal-containing particles from smelters are controlled by topography and the dominant wind directions.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2850645