Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution with Heavy Metals in the Copper Mine Vicinity Located near Radovis, Republic of Macedonia

Balabanova, Biljana and Stafilov, Trajče and Baceva, Katerina and Sajn, Robert (2012) Biomonitoring of Atmospheric Pollution with Heavy Metals in the Copper Mine Vicinity Located near Radovis, Republic of Macedonia. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part A, 45 (12). pp. 1504-1518. ISSN 1093-4529 (Print); 1532-4117 (Online)

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Abstract

This investigation was undertaken to determine the atmospheric pollution with heavy metals due to copper mining Bucim near Radovis, the Republic of Macedonia. Moss samples (Hyloconium splendens and Pleurozium schrebery) were used for biomonitoring the possible atmospheric pollution with heavy metals in mine vicinity. Sixteen elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K,
Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn) were analysed by application of flame and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS and ETAAS) and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). The obtained values were statistically processed using nonparametric and parametric analysis. The median value for copper obtained from moss samples (10 mg/kg) was much lower compared with the same values for the whole territory of the Republic of Macedonia (22 mg/kg). The range of values (2.1–198 mg/kg) shows much higher content of this element in the samples taken from the study area compared to the appropriate values for the whole territory of Macedonia. The association of elements As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb, and Zn was singled out by factor analysis as a characteristic anthropogenic group of elements. Maps of area deposition were made for this group of elements, wherefrom correlation of these anthropogenic born elements was confirmed.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Air pollution, heavy metals, copper mine, biomonitoring, Bucim, Macedonia.
Subjects:	Natural sciences > Chemical sciences Natural sciences > Earth and related environmental sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Agriculture
Depositing User:	Biljana Balabanova
Date Deposited:	14 Nov 2012 14:19
Last Modified:	09 Apr 2013 12:03
URI:	https://eprints.ugd.edu.mk/id/eprint/876

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