DEVELOPMENT OF ATMOSPHERIC DEPOSITION OF HEAVY METALS IN THE VICINITY OF IRON ORE WORKS IN NIZNA SLANA (SLOVAKIA)

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 2, 1213-1220 pp

ABSTRACT

The contribution deals with the evaluation of atmospheric deposition monitoring by the
modified bulk deposition methodology (wet and dry), which was focused on selected
heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, As). The long-time monitoring (2001-2010)
was realised in the vicinity of siderite mining and processing plant. The works operated
until august 2008. The samples were monitored by means of 17 sites located maximally
up to 8 km from main source of pollution. Besides the deposition fluxes of heavy
metals, mineralogical composition, dispersion and size characteristics of solid particles
were studied in selected samples. Minerals, such as magnetite + maghemite, hematite
and siderite, which surely come from from the technology works were predominantly
contained in the samples. The volume contents of solid particles with diameter under 10
μm were about 20 %, nanoparticles were found too. High values of the deposition
fluxes of arsenic, manganese and iron were measured in the years 2001 – 2008
compared with different regions. The highest values of deposition fluxes were detected
at sampling sites located to the south of the source in the central valley in the direction
of wind flow. The dependency between emissions of solid pollutants in the particular
years and deposition fluxes of these metals was observed. After shutdown in the plant,
the decrease of values at the most contaminated sites of deposition of arsenic,
manganese and iron by more than 90% was recorded. Such a major change has not been
established for other studied metals.

Keywords: bulk deposition, metals, particles, immission