Contamination of soil and vegetation at a magnesite mining area in Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia)

Abstract

This paper is focused on the impacts of alkaline and metal deposition on soil and vegetation in the immission field of magnesium factory Jelšava-Lubeník (Slovakia). Soil samples and the foliage of vegetation were obtained from the Jelšava-Lubeník area with specific alkaline pollutants. The examined area is one of the most devastated regions of Slovakia. From the point of view of environmental regionalization, it belongs to an environmentally damaged area of Category 3. The total content of heavy metals in the soil and vegetation (Pb, Zn, Cr, Mn, Mg) were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Soil reaction was determined in a solution of 0.01 M CaCl2. Vegetation was assessed by the Braun-Blanquet scale. In conclusion, we can say that spray particles of free magnesium oxide (MgO) strongly influence soil reaction, diversity, and vegetation cover. The research showed that the investigated sites were mostly strongly alkaline; the contents of Cr, Mn and Mg were over the toxicity limit, while the measured values of Pb and Zn did not exceed the limits set by the law. The values that measured significantly above the set limit show contamination that can be considered harmful and toxic. In the monitored species, that is, Agrostis stolonifera, Elytrigia repens and Phragmites australis, an over-limit content of Pb and Zn and toxic contents of Mg and Mn were found.

The effect of the selected remediation medium on the cadmium bioavailability in the selected ecosystem in the Southwestern locality of Slovakia

“…As environmental pollution is now a global phenomenon, the territory of the Slovak Republic is also not spared from this. At present, the ecological health quality is also affected by anthropogenic activities (Šimanský, 2015;Fazekaš et al, 2018). Growing of healthy foods is a priority for ecological awareness (El Rasafi et al, 2016).…”

Secondary enrichment of soil by alkaline emissions: the specific form of anthropogenic soil degradation near magnesite processing factories and possibilities of land management

“…At sites with content of available Mg higher than 1,000 mg kg -1 (where only limited species of Mg tolerant vegetation grow), care must be taken to maintain the vegetation covering the soil (sites 1, 2, 3, and 6-11). According to the Shannon Index, plant diversity on the studied sited was extremely low (0.0) to middle low (1.5) (Fazekaš et al, 2018). It is necessary to maintain a favourable state of natural vegetation, for example by mulching of meadows, thereby limiting the spread of invasive plants, as well as avoiding the removal of aboveground plant biomass.…”

“…Trin. 6,860 mg kg -1 and Agrostis stolonifera (L.) 5,419 mg kg -1 (Fazekaš et al, 2018). Of these plants, onlyPhragmites australis was characterised by high biomass production, that is 12.7 t ha -1 of dry matter (Demko et al, 2017).…”

“…In closer surroundings of magnesite processing plants, considerable deposition of Mg-rich, alkaline dust has caused vast damage of local plant communities. Currently, only several resistant species are present (Fazekaš et al, 2018). In localities most affected by alkaline dust deposition, the vegetation completely disappeared and a tight, solid Mg-rich, 5-8 mm thick crust was formed on the soil surface, inhibiting the proper soil functioning (Hronec et al, 1992;Fazekaš et al, 2019).…”

Implementácia alternatívnych hodnotení ekologickej stability krajiny: prípadová štúdia environmentálne zaťaženého územia Rudňany

“…Za najvýznamnejší kontaminant oblasti možno považovať antimón, bárium a ortuť(Pramuk a Matiová 2015a Liščák et al 2016. Z novších prác sa kontamináciou pôdy a vegetácie v neďalekej Jelšavsko-lubeníckej zaťaženej oblasti zaoberaliFazekaš et al (2018).…”