Atmospheric Deposition of Copper and Zinc in Maramures County (Romania)

Abstract

The need to reduce pollution to levels that minimize adverse effects on human health involve the monitoring of air quality, including dry depositions and their metal content. The analysis of these parameters aims to investigate the air quality in Maramures County (with nonferrous mining activities) and in the Romanian - Ukraine transboundary area. The paper presents the experimental results obtained for dry atmospheric deposition of copper and zinc using flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The samples were collected from four location/cities of Maramures County (Baia Mare, Sighetu Marmatiei, Viseu de Sus and Borsa) during May-October 2014. The highest average values of copper concentration in the dry depositions were found in Baia Mare (199.88 μg/g), that is the most important industrial centre in Maramures County, followed by Borsa (111.49 μg/g), that used to be a nonferrous mining centre. In Viseu de Sus and Sighetu Marmatiei the average concentrations of copper in the dry depositions were lower: 75.63 μg/g and 64.26 μg/g, respectively. Zn average concentrations in dry depositions were 6.4-12 times higher than Cu concentrations. In Viseu de Sus and Borsa relative high values of Pearson correlation coefficients between the logarithm of Cu and Zn content in the dry deposition were found (0.702 and 0.737, respectively) estimating that both pollutants in the ambient air have the same sources, probably the re-suspension of the dust from the tailing ponds. This study is implemented within the frame of ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Programme Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2007-2013, in the project Clean Air Management in the Romania-Ukraine Transboundary Area - (CLAMROUA), financed by the European Union

Assessment of Water Physicochemical Parameters in the Strîmtori‐Firiza Reservoir in Northwest Romania

“…The metal sources include rock erosion, sediment relocation, atmospheric dust particles deposition or waste water inputs (Raulinaitis et al, 2012;Elkady et al, 2015;Butean et al, 2014). There are several studies about the water quality in freshwater reservoirs showing the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of water that undergo serious anthropic pressure (Jeznach et al, 2016;Palma et al, 2014) In the case of Strˆımtori-Firiza Reservoir, until 2010, there were frequent metal dust particles emissions from industrial chimneys containing high contents of copper and lead.…”

“…There are several studies about the water quality in freshwater reservoirs showing the importance of maintaining and improving the quality of water that undergo serious anthropic pressure (Jeznach et al, 2016;Palma et al, 2014) In the case of Strˆımtori-Firiza Reservoir, until 2010, there were frequent metal dust particles emissions from industrial chimneys containing high contents of copper and lead. The dust particles were transported during the years of metallurgical activities (until 2008 for the copper plant and 2012 for the lead plant) in the reservoir through air currents, part of them falling into the lake's water (Levei et al, 2009;Butean et al, 2014). The reservoir water quality is constantly monitored at the dam sampling point because this is the point for collecting the raw water for the water treatment plant.…”

Characterization of the Chemical Composition of Atmospheryc Deposition

“…The atmosphere is an environment in which pollutants are difficult to control once arrived, they quickly disperses according to many factors. Most of these pollutants in the atmosphere are transferred to soil, vegetation, water, buildings etc., becoming a form of atmospheric deposition with sometimes major environmental impact [1]. Deposition is the final pathway by which pollutants are removed from the atmosphere thus achieving a self-purification of the atmosphere.…”