Environmental Pollution With Heavy Metals in the Republic of Macedonia

Abstract

An overview to the results from the application of various spectrometric (atomic absorption spectrometry, AAS; inductively coupled plasma -atomic emission spectrometry, ICP-AES; and inductively coupled plasma -mass spectrometry, ICP-MS) and radioanalytical (neutron activation analysis, NAA) techniques in environmental pollution studies in the Republic of Macedonia are presented. The results from the surveys of the pollution with heavy metals of soil, air and food are reported. The pollution with heavy metals in the particular regions was additionally investigated using moss, lichens, attic dust, soil, water and sediment samples. The results from the study of the pollution in the cities of Veles (lead and zinc smelter plant), Kavadarci (ferronickel smelter plant), Radoviš (copper mine and flotation), Probištip, Makedonska Kamenica and Kriva Palanka (lead and zinc mines and flotation plants) and Bitola and Kičevo (thermoelectric power plants) are presented.

Multivariate factor assessment for lithogenic and anthropogenic distribution of macro and trace elements in surface water. Case study: Basin of the Bregalnica river, Republic of Macedonia

“…This whole area is intensively cultivated with crops for the irrigation of which the water from the Bregalnica river is used. The water is almost completely used for irrigation of the cultivated low terrace (2 to 3 m) on the right river bank [23]. …”

“…The basin of the Bregalnica river is an interesting region from the aspect of its specific geology (for lithological distribution of elements), but there are several significant sources of potentially toxic metals and other chemical elements in the environment, which contribute to the anthropogenic influence of the distribution of these elements [23]. The Bregalnica river basin is characterized by the occurrence of lead and zinc mineralization and exploitation ("Zletovo" and "Sasa" mines), copper mineralization and exploitation ("Bučim" mine) and Fe mineralization and former exploitation ("Damjan" mine).…”

Assessment of Trace Elements Bioavailability – Ingestion of Toxic Elements From the Attic Dust Collected From the Vicinity of the Ferro-Nickel Smelter Plant

“…The significant emission sources that contribute to atmospheric pollution with chemical elements on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia, are predominantly mines and smelter plants [26]. The subject of this study is to investigate the degree of air pollution in the town of Kavadarci and its surrounding through analysis of attic dust samples.…”

Geochemical hunting of lithogenic and anthropogenic impacts on polymetallic distribution (Bregalnica river basin, Republic of Macedonia)

“…[13] For example, in the Republic of Macedonia there are several significant pollution sources of potentially toxic elements/metals that continuously introduce tailings and waste into river waters. [14] These hotspots are predominantly present in the southeast part of the country. On the other hand, this region is characterized by a dominance of very old geological units specific for the Balkans area and even Europe as a whole.…”

“…Regarding the dominance of the volcanic geological units and Pb-Zn mineral deposits, the region of the Bregalnica river basin is a specific region to monitor the geochemical interactions in various alluvial soils. [14,15] This region is characterized by several significant pollution sources of potentially toxic metals and other chemical elements in the environment: the copper mine and flotation Bu cim near Radovi s and the Pb-Zn mines Sasa near Makedonska Kamenica and Zletovo near Probi stip. [16] The excavation of the copper minerals is carried out from an open ore pit, while in the leadzinc mines the exploitation is underground, and the ore tailings are stored outdoors.…”