Integration of soil magnetometry and geochemistry for assessment of human health risk from metallurgical slag dumps

Abstract

The main objective of the study was an assessment of the pollution level of agricultural land located close to dumps of industrial waste remaining after former Zn and Pb ore processing in Poland. The integrated geophysical-geochemical methods were applied for assessment of soil quality with respect to trace element pollution. Additionally, human health risk induced by the contaminated arable soil and dusting slag heap was estimated. The investigations pointed out that soils in the vicinity of the metallurgical slag dump in Piekary were heavily polluted. Spatial distribution of magnetic susceptibility corresponding well with distribution of the content of potentially toxic elements indicated the local “pollution hotspots.” Proper geophysical and geochemical data interpretation supported by statistical factor analysis enabled identification of three different sources of pollution including metallurgical slug dump as a main source, but also traffic pollution influencing the area located along the busy road and relatively strong influence of the geochemical background. Computed health hazard index revealed no adverse health effect to the farmers cultivating arable soil, but in the direct vicinity of dusting, slag dump health risk occurred, caused mostly by very toxic elements as As and Tl. In the future, investigation should be focused on contribution of different sources to the heavy metal pollution in soil-crop system in this area. It should be highlighted that a site-specific approach should be taken in order to redevelop this kind of area in order to reduce ecological and human health threat. The study proved the integrated two-stage geophysical-geochemical method to be a feasible, reliable, and cost-effective tool for identification of the extent of soil pollution and areas at risk.

Integrated geophysical and geochemical methods applied for recognition of acid waste drainage (AWD) from Zn-Pb post-flotation tailing pile (Olkusz, southern Poland)

“…11a). A similar effect was also observed in the area of the post-industrial waste dumping ground of zinc and lead smelter in Piekary (Rachwał et al 2017).…”

“…The weathering processes cause the iron to pass from the paramagnetic forms to the ferri-or antiferrimagnetic forms, which results in an increase in the value of magnetic susceptibility. The research (Rachwał et al 2017;Magiera et al 2018) showed a high correlation between the magnetic susceptibility values and Zn, Mn, Cu, As and Sb, the potentially toxic elements (PTEs) characteristic for emissions associated with storage and processing of Zn-Pb ores.…”

Application of different geophysical techniques to study Technosol developed on metallurgical wastes

“…Such conditions are very favorable for the application of geophysical measurements based on magnetic and geoelectric methods in order to more accurately determine the depth of the metallurgical waste layer, which in a significant part of the park creates the subsoil for Technosol occurring in this area. Soil magnetometry (initially tested in this park area for pollution screening) is suitable for identifying soil pollution connected with airborne deposition of technogenic magnetic particles and related trace elements, and it is limited to the uppermost layers of the topsoil (Hanesch & Scholger, 2002; Magiera, Strzyszcz, & Rachwał, 2007; Petrovský, Kapička, Jordanova, Knab, & Hoffmann, 2000; Rachwał, Wawer, Magiera, & Steinnes, 2017; Strzyszcz, Magiera, & Heller, 1996). In many cores collected in the area of magnetic anomaly, the κ value measured at a depth of 30 cm was still high.…”

“…In the case of the other analyzed metals, their content in the metallurgical waste is low, significantly below the thresholds provided by law (Table S2). it is limited to the uppermost layers of the topsoil (Hanesch & Scholger, 2002;Magiera, Strzyszcz, & Rachwał, 2007;Petrovský, Kapička, Jordanova, Knab, & Hoffmann, 2000;Rachwał, Wawer, Magiera, & Steinnes, 2017;Strzyszcz, Magiera, & Heller, 1996). In many cores collected in the area of magnetic anomaly, the κ value measured at a depth of 30 cm was still high.…”

Application of Mössbauer Spectroscopy for Identification of Iron-Containing Components in Upper Silesian Topsoil Being under Industrial Anthropopressure

“…Nowadays, it is nearly impossible to find an area in this region that has not been transformed by human activity. As such, soils in this area have been strongly transformed and contaminated [ 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”