The aim of this study to test the new sampling media – earthworm casts in a highly contaminated area. The investigation was carried out at the ancient Hg ore roasting site Pšenk in the surroundings of Idrija, where extremely high Hg contents in soils and SOM were determined in previous investigations. 32 earthworm cast samples were collected in the research grid 30 x 30 m in order to compare the Hg contents and spatial distribution in earthworm casts to the values and distributions in SOM and soil (0–15 cm). Extremely elevated Hg concentrations were determined in earthworm casts from the studied area ranging from 5.4 to 4,330 mg/kg with the median of 31 mg/kg. The Hg values in casts are somewhat lower than in soil (6.3–8600 mg/kg) and slightly higher compared to soil organic matter (SOM) (1.5–4200 mg/kg). Strong correlation (r²=0.75) between Hg contents in casts and soil was found, while correlation between casts and SOM was positive but weaker (r²=0.35). Spatial distribution of Hg in earthworm casts show the highest concentrations in the central part of investigated area, similar to the distribution in soil. Hg contents rapidly decrease from the centre towards the margins of the studied area, where they reach values of less than 50 mg/kg. It was shown that Hg contents and dispersion in casts are comparable to those in soil, which indicates that at investigated area soil contamination is strongly reflected in contamination of earthworm casts.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2030933
A survey was carried out to determine the activity concentration and distribution of 40K and gross beta activity in the soil from the city of Kavadarci, Republic of Macedonia, and its environs. A total of 45 surface soil samples were collected from evenly distributed sampling sites over an area of 360 km2. The activity concentrations of 40K were measured using a high purity germanium (HPGe) gamma-ray detector, while the gross beta activity measurements were made using a low background gas-flow proportional counter. The obtained values for the activity concentrations of 40K were found to be in the range of 290 and 800 Bq/kg with an average value of 550 Bq/kg. The gross beta activities varied between 440 and 1100 Bq/kg, with an average value of 680 Bq/kg. These values allowed the determination of the elemental concentrations of potassium as well as the air absorbed gamma dose rate, which were found to range from 12 to 33 nGy/h, respectively.. All obtained values fall within the worldwide range as reported in the literature. A strong correlation between the content of potassium in the soils and their geological origin was observed.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1883221
The goal of this work is the presentation of the chemical composition of selected urban deposits (dusts) and their relation to spatial macrolocation (rural/urban environments), geological background, topsoil composition, dominant natural/anthropogenic factors and other influential factors. The evaluation was done on the basis of 83 sampling locations, where attic dust, household dust and topsoil were sampled. Twenty-three of them were placed in towns; others ware placed in natural environments in Slovenia. In the work, distributions of 41 chemical elements were evaluated. According to the multivariate statistics, the dominant geochemical associations of elements were recognized. Their areal distribution in sampled materials across the countryside and larger towns in Slovenia was determined. The geochemical properties of household and attic dust were compared with topsoil and evaluated in terms of their elemental contents. The proportion of anthropogenic impact to toxic metal concentrations in urban sediments was assessed. As based on comparisons of household dust, attic dust and topsoil using the multivariate statistical method (factor and cluster analysis), four patterns of elemental distributions were established. The two natural geochemical associations, Ti-V-Al-Th-Sc-Fe-Y-Nb-Co-Mn-La and Ba-Na-La, are mainly influenced by the weathering of crust or soil. The association Pb-Zn-Cd-Sb-Mo-Hg-Sn-Cu represents the chemical elements anthropogenically introduced into the environment. Distribution of this association represents the consequences of the influence of Pb and Zn smelters in the past. High Hg is a consequence of centuries of lasting operation of the Idrija mercury mine and smelters and of military activities during the First World War, known as Soča (Insonzo) front line. The fourth association of Ni-Cr-Co is influenced by natural and anthropogenic factors. Distribution is mainly influenced by lithology, but it can also be attributed to the anthropogenic influence as a result of iron processing.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2104917
In August 2008 an intensive pumping experiment was carried out in order to assess the capacity of Brestovica – Klariči water supply in summer conditions, and its chemical quality. Groundwater was pumped for a period of 30 days, from three wells at the Klariči pumping station, and from well B-10/06, with a common capacity of 470 L/s. The fact that pumping caused a decrease in the water table in well B-10/06 by only 17 cm at a pumping rate of 265 L/s suggests that larger quantities of groundwater could be pumped from this well. The intensive pumping resulted in changes in the chemical and isotopic composition of oxygen in the water, due to a greater impact of the water from the intergranular Soča River aquifer on the karst aquifer. The chemical quality of groundwater from well B-10/06 is adequate for the purpose of drinking water supply.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2033493
In the Pannonian Basin the issue of transboundary cold and thermal water resources is regionally very important and the T-JAM bilateral Hungarian-Slovenian project was the first to apply modern isotopic and chemical analyses in the characterisation and correlation of a number of shared groundwater resources in the Mura-Zala Sub-basin. The aims were the identification of groundwater flow paths, the delineation of transboundary aquifers, and providing input to calibrate a hydraulic numerical model. Following a common groundwater sampling campaign, 24 cold and thermal groundwater samples from 7 aquifers were collected for chemical, isotope, gas, and noble gas analyses. A regional groundwater flow has been confirmed. The Újfalu and Mura Formations are a part of the active regional thermal groundwater flow system, probably hydraulically separated from the shallower flow system of the Ptuj-Grad, Zagyva and Somló-Tihany Formations. The thermal water is of meteoric origin, reductive and alkaline. The predominant water type in the Quaternary and Pliocene aquifers is Ca-Mg-HCO3, changing to Na-HCO3 in the main Pannonian geothermal aquifer, and Na-Cl brine in deeper and older Miocene aquifers. TDS and sodium content generally increase with depth. Deuterium is in the range from -87 to -75 ‰, oxygen-18 from -11.9 to -10.4 ‰, while 14C values are less than 6.1 pmC. Results indicate recharge during the Pleistocene interglacial period with temperatures around 6-7°C. Regional thermal water resources are limited and environmental isotopes can be used as an early warning in the management of thermal water.
COBISS.SI-ID: 2093653