title: Risk assessment of metals and PAHs for receptor organisms in differently polluted areas in Slovenia.
abstract: Samples from receptor organisms (small mammals, passerine birds) and their food sources (herbaceous plants, leaves and fruits of wood plants, earthworms) were collected during 2011-2014 from the vicinity of a former lead smelter, from the vicinity of the largest Slovenian thermal power plant, from along a state road and also from a reference area. The samples were then analysed to determine the degree of contamination with the metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mo) and with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study provides the first data on metal and PAH exposure to small mammals and passerine birds in southeast Europe, focussing on the transfer of metals and PAHs through the food chain and on risk assessment for differently polluted areas in Slovenia. The results indicate that: (i) earthworms and herbaceous plants (especially roots) can be a source of metal exposure for organisms higher in the food chain; (ii) a risk from Pb and Cd (HQ > 1) in the vicinity of the former lead smelter exists for Myodes glareolus feeding in part on roots and for Apodemus flavicollis and Parus major feeding in part on earthworms; and (iii) mean Pb and Cd concentrations in the liver of small mammal species inhabiting the vicinity of the lead smelter reach effect concentrations in a significant proportion of the specimens (Pb: 40%, Cd: 67%); (iv) the results for P. major confirm that the study area is exposed to Pb, Cd, Hg; (v) metals contribute the major part of the total risk for receptor organisms from vicinity of lead smelter. On the contrary, the risk of PAHs for small mammals trapped close to the state road is insignificant. We can summarize, that the hazards experienced by the local ecosystem due to metal exposure may persist for decades in the vicinity of large emission sources (especially smelters).
authors.affiliation: ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation, Koroška 58, SI-3320 Velenje, Slovenia. Electronic address: samar.petkovsek@erico.si.
authors.forename: Samar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Sayegh Petkovšek
authors.affiliation: ERICo Velenje, Ecological Research & Industrial Cooperation, Koroška 58, SI-3320 Velenje, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kopušar
authors.affiliation: The National Institute of Biology, Večna pot 111, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Davorin
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tome
authors.affiliation: Natural History Museum of Slovenia, Prešernova 20, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kryštufek
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004787:Environmental Pollution; D008670:Metals / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017524:Slovenia; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Hazard Quotient (HQ); Lead smelter; Metals; Parus major; Risk assessment; Small mammals