Multivariate statistical assessment of heavy metal pollution sources of groundwater around a lead and zinc plant

<p>Abstract</p> <p>The contamination of groundwater by heavy metal ions around a lead and zinc plant has been studied. As a case study groundwater contamination in Bonab Industrial Estate (Zanjan-Iran) for iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead content was investigated using differential pulse polarography (DPP). Although, cobalt, copper and zinc were found correspondingly in 47.8%, 100.0%, and 100.0% of the samples, they did not contain these metals above their maximum contaminant levels (MCLs). Cadmium was detected in 65.2% of the samples and 17.4% of them were polluted by this metal. All samples contained detectable levels of lead and iron with 8.7% and 13.0% of the samples higher than their MCLs. Nickel was also found in 78.3% of the samples, out of which 8.7% were polluted. In general, the results revealed the contamination of groundwater sources in the studied zone. The higher health risks are related to lead, nickel, and cadmium ions. Multivariate statistical techniques were applied for interpreting the experimental data and giving a description for the sources. The data analysis showed correlations and similarities between investigated heavy metals and helps to classify these ion groups. Cluster analysis identified five clusters among the studied heavy metals. Cluster 1 consisted of Pb, Cu, and cluster 3 included Cd, Fe; also each of the elements Zn, Co and Ni was located in groups with single member. The same results were obtained by factor analysis. Statistical investigations revealed that anthropogenic factors and notably lead and zinc plant and pedo-geochemical pollution sources are influencing water quality in the studied area.</p

Environmental Pollution of Soil and Anthropogenic Impact of Polymetallic Hydrothermal Extractions: Case Study—Bregalnica River Basin, Republic of Macedonia

The distribution of certain elements, which in higher content represents hazard to the environment, causes certain unwanted consequences on human health. Therefore, the environmental monitoring not only for the lithogenic but also for the anthropogenic distribution leads to determination of the main hot spots in environment. The anthropogenic activities for exploitation of natural resources and their processing represent a global problem of pollution of the environment. Bregalnica River Basin in the eastern part of the Republic of Macedonia was selected as a study area with the presence of three potential emission sources: lead and zinc mines („Zletovo” and „Sasa” mines) and copper mine („Bučim” mine). Lithogenic and anthropogenic distribution of 69 elements was evaluated in alluvial, automorphic and paddy soil from Bregalnica River Basin. Determination of the total elements contents was performed using mass spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-MS) and atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). The obtained values for the contents of certain potentially toxic elements show significantly higher values in all types of samples taken from the vicinity of the mines, characterized with anthropogenic impacts. Soil analysis indicates that the lithogenic distribution is represented by six geochemical associations. The anthropogenic distribution represents the factor F2 (Cu, Pb, Sb, Cd, Sn, Zn, Te), where the regions of mines cover 90 percentile of the contents of these elements. Intensive polymetallic depositions were recorded only in the surroundings of the localities where the hydrothermal extractions are implemented