title: Environmental contamination assessment of the surroundings of the ex-ferrochromium smelter Dugi Rat, Croatia.
abstract: The objective of this study was to chemically characterize the soil samples affected by the dust emission and slag dumping from ferrochromium smelter, as well as uptake of metals by vegetation growing on that soil. There were 38 samples collected altogether, including unpolluted background soil samples, polluted soil samples taken in the vicinity of the factory, slag material, bottom and fly ash. Grass material was also taken from both polluted and unpolluted soil. All samples were analyzed with energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF). The results showed (especially for chromium and manganese) metal concentrations in soil samples taken in the vicinity of the factory increased up to 56 times in relation to normal background soil concentrations. Slag material, fly and bottom ash were highly enriched with chromium, manganese and nickel. There was a significant chromium uptake by vegetation growing on the contaminated soil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Radioecology, Ruder Bosković Institute, Zagreb, 10 002, Croatia. vobescan@irb.hr
authors.forename: Visnja
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Orescanin
authors.forename: Luka
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mikelić
authors.forename: Ivanka
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lovrencić
authors.forename: Delko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barisić
authors.forename: Nenad
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mikulić
authors.forename: Stipe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lulić
mesh_terms: D002858:Chromium Alloys / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D017523:Croatia; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D002858:Chromium Alloys; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; C027393:ferrochromium