Preliminary results of a study of attic and household dusts from Pb mining and smelting area in Žerjav by bulk chemical analyses and SEM/EDS analysis with the aim to characterize contribution of recent and past airborne metal pollution in order to understand present-day situation. The study showed that contents of Pb and Sb in dust exceed the New Dutchlist intervention values for soils by up to 135 and 55 times, respectively. Metal-bearing particles in attic dust occupy 22% of the sample. 50% of these (Cu-bearing anglesite, Zn-sulphate) probably originate from Pb-smelting, 27% of metal-bearing particles (pure anglesite, sphalerite, (Zn,Cu,Sn)-bearing Fe-oxyhydroxy sulphates) result from mining and mechanical ore/mine waste processing, while 23% (Pb-K sulphate, (Sb,Sn,Cl)-bearing anglesite, Pb-Sb-Sn-oxides and sulphates), emanate from present-day Pb-recycling. In the household dust, C-bearing particles (55%) prevail, while metal-bearing particles represent 4% of the sample. 77% of metal-bearing particles ((Pb,Zn)-bearing Fe-oxyhydroxides, barite), most probably originate from mining and mechanical ore/mine waste processing, 20% from Pb-smelting and 3% from present-day Pb-recycling. The influence of historical emissions from Pb-smelting, mining and mechanical ore/mine waste processing on dust composition was greater than that from present-day Pb-recycling as reflected in dust particle composition and associations.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 2557269Metal-bearing particles in attic and household dusts burdened with toxic metals from Žerjav were studied by means of SEM/EDS differential individual particle analysis (DIPA) in order to characterize changes in morphological and chemical properties of metal-bearing phases after exposure to simulated gastric fluid and determine which metal-bearing phases contribute to bioaccessible fraction of metals. The preliminary results of analysis showed different degree of transformation on metal-bearing phases, particularly Pb-bearing phases. The majority of Pb-oxide/carbonate grains were completely dissolved, while corrosion pits appeared on remaining grains. Pb-K sulphate crystals reduced in size by 30% after 15 minutes and K was completely leached out. After 75 minutes they dissolved completely or were transformed into Pb-sulphates. Pb-sulphate grains and aggregates experienced minor corrosion on crystal surfaces. No changes were observed on Pb- and Zn-sulphides, Pb- and Fe-sulphates, and Pb-Sb-Sn-oxides. The study showed that Pb-oxides/carbonates, Pb-K sulphates and Pb-sulphates are unstable phases that contribute most to bioaccessibility of Pb during their digestion.
B.03 Paper at an international scientific conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 2557013Dr. Miloš Miler is a member of the international editorial board of the central Slovenian scientific journal Geology. The journal publishes contributions from domestic and foreign authors from a wider field of geology.
C.06 Editorial board membership
COBISS.SI-ID: 5636866