The metal levels were determined in soil samples in earthworms collected in the vicinity of the abandoned lead smelter (the Upper Meža Valley, Žerjav) andthe largest thermal power plant in Slovenia (the Šalek Valley, Veliki Vrh),near Velenje - Celje road (Črnova) and at the reference area (the Logar Valley, Polanc) with the aim to investigate the transfer of metals from soil to earthworms and to assess the bioindicative potential of earthworms. Our study revealed the following: (i) the highest levels of metals were determinedin earthworms from the most polluted area (Žerjav) and the lowest inearthworms from the reference location (the Logar Valley); (ii) earthworms bioaccumulated Cd, Hg and Zn at all locations, bioaccumulative factors (BCF) of these three metals ranged between 1.18 - 29.2 (Cd), 1.68 - 21.0 (Hg) and 1.10 - 5.57 (Zn), respectively; (iii) earthworms are good bioindicator of polluted soil, since the correlations between Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg and Mo in soil and in earthworms were established.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3746726
The transfer of lead, cadmium, zinc, mercury, copper and molybdenum from soil to the liver of small mammals inhabiting differently polluted areas in Slovenia was investigated. Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cu, and Mo were determined in soil samples and in 139 individuals of five small mammal species, collected in 2012 in the vicinity of a former lead smelter, the largest Slovenian thermal power plant, along a main road and in a control area. The area in the vicinity of former lead smelter significantly differs from other study areas. The soil from that area is heavily polluted with Pb and Cd. The mean metal concentrations in liver, irrespective of species, varied in the following ranges: Pb: 0.40-7.40 mg/kg fw, Cd: 0.27-135 mg/kg fw and reached effect concentrations at which toxic effects can be expected in a significant proportion of the livers of the small mammal specimens (Pb: 40%, Cd: 67%). These findings indicate that the majority of small mammals trapped in the area of the former lead smelter are at risk of toxic effects due to the very high bioaccumulation of Pb and Cd in the organism. On the contrary, Pd and Cd concentrations in livers of small mammals sampled in the vicinity of the thermal power plant and along the main road were comparable with reference values and considerably lower than effect concentrations. Additionally, the study suggests that Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus are very suitable biomonitors of metal pollution.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1160406
Cd and Pb contents were determined in 699 samples of fruiting bodies of 55 mushrooms species, collected in the period 2000-2007 in the vicinity of the largest Slovenian thermal power plant (the Šalek Valley) and near an abandoned lead smelter (the Upper Meža Valley). The present study is the first regarding lead and cadmium in mushrooms from those exposed areas. Therefore, there was a significant lack of prior data. Among 55 studied mushroom species 36 species are edible and important from an ecotoxicological perspective. However, the remaining non-edible species are important for bioindication and allowed us to compare our results with other studies carried out in other polluted areas in Europe. The highest contents of Cd were found in Agaricus arvensis (117 mg/kg dw) and Agaricus silvicola (67.9 mg/kg dw), while the highest contents of Pb were found in Macrolepiota procera (53.8 mg/kg dw) and Lycoperdon perlatum (50 mg/kg dw), respectively. Considering the high contents of both metals in fruiting bodies of edible fungi, together with FAO/WHO directives on tolerable levels of weekly intake of Pb/Cd by humans, it is evident that consumption of some mushroom species originating from both study areas may pose a significant human health risk. Agaricus arvensis, Agaricus silvicola and Cortinarius caperatus originating from the Šalek Valley, and Armillaria mellea, Boletus edulis, Lycoperdon perlatum, Leccinum versipelle, and Macrolepiota procera originating from the Upper Meža Valley should not be consumed at all. Our findings are consistent with some other studies, which emphasized that mushrooms from heavily polluted areas, such as in the vicinity of smelters, accumulate extremely high amounts of metals, and should therefore be omitted from human consumption.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1142486
The metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mo) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in receptor organisms (small mammals and passerine birds) and their food items (herbaceous plants, leaves and fruits of wood plants, earthworms) collected in the period 2011-2014 in the vicinity of former lead smelter, the largest Slovenian thermal power plant and along a main road and in a control area. The risk assessment of differently polluted areas was performed on the basis of comparisons of exposure levels (metal and PAHs concentrations, determined in liver and tail feathers) of receptor organisms with effect concentrations and literature data from other studies and calculation of Hazard Quotient (HQ). The risk of Pb and Cd (HQ )1) in the vicinity of former lead smelter was determined for M. gleroulus feeding including roots and for A. flavicollis and P. major feeding including earthworms. Further on, the mean Pb and Cd concentrations in liver of small mammals species reached effect concentrations in a significant proportion of small mammal specimens (Pb: 40%, Cd: 67%). The use of P. major confirmed that this study area is exposed to Pb, Cd and Hg. Additionally, it was found that metals contribute most to the total risk for receptor organisms originating from the most polluted study area (lead smelter), whereas the risk of PAHs for small mammals trapped close to the main road, is insignificant. We can summarize that the former lead smelter still represent threat to the local ecosystem in spite of the closing of the smelter activities more than thirty years ago.