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Environmental and Health Risk Assessment Due to Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil near Former Antimony Mine in Western Serbia

Author

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  • Snežana Belanović Simić

    (Department for Ecological Engineering for Soil and Water Resources Protection, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Predrag Miljković

    (Department for Ecological Engineering for Soil and Water Resources Protection, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Aleksandar Baumgertel

    (Department for Ecological Engineering for Soil and Water Resources Protection, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Sara Lukić

    (Department for Ecological Engineering for Soil and Water Resources Protection, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Janko Ljubičić

    (Department of Forestry and Nature Conservation, University of Belgrade—Faculty of Forestry, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia)

  • Dragan Čakmak

    (Department of Ecology, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”—National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana, 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia)

Abstract

Background: Anthropogenic activities have clearly affected the environment, with irreversible and destructive consequences. Mining activities have a significant negative impact, primarily on soil, and then on human health. The negative impact of the first mining activities is represented even today in the soils of those localities. Research shows that, for different types of mines, the concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are high, especially in antimony, multi-metal and lead–zinc mines, which have adverse effects on the environment and then on human health and the economy. A large flood in 2014 in Western Serbia resulted in the breaking of the dam of the processed antimony ore dump of the former antimony mine, causing toxic tailings to spill and pollute the downstream area. Due to this accident, tailings material flooded the area downstream of the dump, and severely affected the local agriculture and population. Methods: Potentially toxic elements content, pollution indices and health indices were determined in soil samples from the flooded area, using referenced methodologies. The sources and routes of pollutants and risks were determined and quantified using statistical principal component analysis, positive matrix factorisation, and a Monte Carlo simulation. Results: The main source of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Sb and Zn in the upper part of the study area was the tailing material. Based on the pollution indices, about 72% of the studied samples show a high risk of contamination and are mainly distributed immediately downstream of the tailings dump that was spilled due to heavy rainfall. Conclusions: Although the content of the PTEs is high, there is no non-carcinogenic risk for any PTEs except As, for which a threshold risk was determined. There is no carcinogenic risk in the study area.

Suggested Citation

  • Snežana Belanović Simić & Predrag Miljković & Aleksandar Baumgertel & Sara Lukić & Janko Ljubičić & Dragan Čakmak, 2023. "Environmental and Health Risk Assessment Due to Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil near Former Antimony Mine in Western Serbia," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-18, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:421-:d:1058987
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gang Wang & Hou-Qi Liu & Yu Gong & Yang Wei & Ai-Jun Miao & Liu-Yan Yang & Huan Zhong, 2017. "Risk Assessment of Metals in Urban Soils from a Typical Industrial City, Suzhou, Eastern China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-17, September.
    2. Yang Guan & Chaofeng Shao & Meiting Ju, 2014. "Heavy Metal Contamination Assessment and Partition for Industrial and Mining Gathering Areas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-18, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Liaqat Ali & Shehzad Ali & Seema Anjum Khattak & Hammad Tariq Janjuhah & George Kontakiotis & Rahib Hussain & Shah Rukh & Mohammad Tahir Shah & George D. Bathrellos & Hariklia D. Skilodimou, 2023. "Distribution, Risk Assessment and Source Identification of Potentially Toxic Elements in Coal Mining Contaminated Soils of Makarwal, Pakistan: Environmental and Human Health Outcomes," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-15, April.

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