TITLE:
Atmospheric Deposition Study in the Area of Kardzhali Lead-Zinc Plant Based on Moss Analysis
AUTHORS:
Gergana Hristozova, Savka Marinova, Lyudmila Pavlovna Strelkova, Zoya Goryainova, Marina Vladimirovna Frontasyeva, Trajče Stafilov
KEYWORDS:
Moss Biomonitoring, Heavy Metals, Epithermal Neutron Activation Analysis, Atomic Absorption Spectrometry
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Analytical Chemistry,
Vol.5 No.14,
October
14,
2014
ABSTRACT: For the first time
the moss biomonitoring technique was used to assess the environmental situation
in the area affected by a lead zinc plant as one of the most hazardous
enterprises in Bulgaria. 77 Hypnum cupressiforme moss samples were
collected in the Kardzhali municipality, in the summer and autumn of
2011. The concentrations of a total of 47 elements were determined by means of
instrumental epithermal neutron activation analysis (ENAA), atomic absorption
spectrometry (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry
(ICP-AES). Multivariate statistics was applied to characterize the sources of
elements detected in the samples. Four groups of elements were found. In
comparison to the data averaged for the area outside of the town, the atmospheric
deposition loads for the elements of industrial origin in Kardzhali, where the
smelter chimney is located, were found to be much higher. Median levels of the
measured concentrations for the most toxic metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Cu, In, Sb)
were extremely high in this hot spot when compared to the median Bulgarian
cross-country data from the 2010/2011 European moss survey. GIS technology was
used to produce element distribution maps illustrating deposition patterns of
element pollutants in the study area. The results obtained contribute to the
Bulgarian environmental research used to study and control the manufacturing
processes of a lead-zinc smelter in the town of Kardzhali.