Application and improvement of soil spatial distribution mapping using advanced modelling techniques

The main purpose of this contribution is to develop  realistic prediction digital soil maps in order to increase their visuality, and to evaluate and compare the performance of different modeling techniques: a) Kriging, b) Artificial Neural Network – Multilayer Perceptron (ANN-MLP) and c) Multiple Polynomial Regressions (MPR). The following  criteria were used to determine selection of the testing site for the modeling: (1) intensive metal ore mining and metallurgical processing; (2) geomorphological natural features; (3) regular geological setting, and (4) the remaining minefields. The success of Digital Soil Mapping and the plausibility of prediction maps increases with the availability of spatial data, the availability of computing power for processing data, the development of data-mining tools, geographical information systems (GIS) and numerous applications beyond geostatistics. Advanced prediction modeling techniques, ANN-MLP and MPR include geospatial parameters sourced from Digital Elevation Models (DEM), land use and remote sensing, applied in combination with costly and time-consuming soil measurements, developed and finally incorporated into the models of spatial distribution in the form of 2D or 3D maps. Innovative approaches to modeling assist us in the reconstruction of different processes that impact the entire study area, simultaneously. This holistic approach represents a novelty in contamination mapping and develops prediction models to help in the reconstruction of main distribution pathways, to assess the real size of the affected area as well as improving the data interpretation.</p

Influence of ironworks on distribution of chemical elements in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia

The objective of this work is the study of the distribution of chemical elements in attic dust and topsoil for the identification of anthropogenic and geogenic element sources in an old metallurgic area in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Slovenia (Slo – BiH bilateral project “Heavy metals in environment as consequences of mining and smelting in the past”). Samples of attic dust and topsoil were collected in localities in BiH (Zenica, Vareš and Ilijaš) and Slovenia (Jesenice, Štore and Ravne).Analysis for 42 chemical elements was performed. Based on a comparison of statistical parameters, spatial distribution of particular elements and results of cluster analysis one natural and two anthropogenic geochemical associations were identified. The natural geochemical association (Al-K-La-Sc-Th-Ti) is influenced mainly by lithology. The anthropogenic association (Co-Cr-Mo-Ni-V-W) is the result of iron metallurgy in the past. The second anthropogenic association (Ag-As-Cd-Fe-Hg-Mn-Pb-Sb-Sn-Zn) is the result of high level of sulphide phase in iron ore (Vareš) and zinc and sulphuric acid production in the Celje area

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN SOIL FROM THE STRUMICA REGION, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

This study presents results for the distribution of heavy metals in soil samples from the Strumica region, Republic of Macedonia. To perform this study, 132 soil samples were collected (66 from topsoil and 66 from bottom soil). Soil samples were digested by the mixture of mineral acids for total dissolution. Nineteen elements (Ag, Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) were analyzed by atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). The results were statistically processed and maps of spatial distribution of individual elements in the study area were prepared giving the presence of the analyzed elements in soil from the Strumica region. From the obtained results and the distribution maps it can be seen that the higher content of the elements in some areas are mainly due to their presence in the surrounding rocks. Factor analysis is performed from a number of variables providing a small number of new, synthetic variables called factors. On the basis of the spatial distribution of element patterns, comparison of basic statistical parameters, the correlation coefficient matrices, and the results of multivariate (cluster and FA) analyses, three lithogenic associations were established: F1 (Ni-Cr-Fe-V-CuZn), F2 (Sr-Ca-Al-Mg) and F3 (K-Li).&nbsp

Biomonitoring and assessment of toxic element contamination in floodplain sediments and soils using fluorescein diacetate (FDA) enzymatic activity measurements: evaluation of possibilities and limitations through the case study of the Drava River floodplain

The EU Water Framework Directive requires the monitoring and evaluation of surface water sediment quality based on the assessment of risk posed by contamination on the biotic receptors. Floodplain sediments are important receptors of potentially toxic element (PTE) contamination from the upstream catchment areas, and floodplains host climate-sensitive riverine ecosystems and fertile agricultural areas at the same time. This study investigates the effect of PTE contamination on microbial communities in floodplain sediments and soils using the fast, inexpensive and reliable fluorescein diacetate (FDA) method in order to estimate its applicability for sediment quality monitoring and preliminary toxicity-based risk assessment. Sediment and soil samples were collected from the actively flooded alluvial plain and the river terrace areas along a 130-km stretch of the large Drava River floodplain known to be widely contaminated by historical mining, smelting and the associated industry in the upstream Alpine region. Results of detailed data analysis show that the total microbial activity represented by the measured FDA values is related to PTE (As, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) concentrations, but this relationship shows significant heterogeneity and depends on the spatial location and on the soil properties such as organic matter content, dissolved salt and nutrient content, and it is specific to the toxic elements. Results show that some microbe species appear to be able to adapt to the elevated PTE concentrations in toxic soil micro-environments, over time. Despite the observed heterogeneity of microbial activity, the results revealed a breakpoint in the FDA dataset around the FDA = 3 FC (fluorescein concentration) value suggesting that microbial activity is controlled by thresholds

MULTI-ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION IN ROAD AND STREET DUST IN THE BITOLA REGION, NORTH MACEDONIA

The results of the systematic study of the spatial distribution of trace metals in road and street dust collected from the streets in the city of Bitola and from the roads in the southern part of the Pelagonia Valley, North Macedonia, known for its coal mine and thermoelectrical power plant (REK Bitola) activities, are reported. The investigated region is covered by a sampling in the four main roads in the direction North-South and East-West. In total, 39 dust samples were collected. Inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) was applied for the determinations of 21 elements (Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn). Data for the elements contents were proceed using nonparametric and parametric analysis while for the data normalization the method of Box-Cox transformation was applied. The universal kriging method with linear variogram interpolation was applied for the construction of spatial distribution maps of each factor score and the analyzed elements. Based on the results of factor analyses, three geogenic associations of elements (factors) have been defined: F1 (Ni, Cr, Cu, Fe, Co, Mn, Zn, V and P), F2 (Ba, Al, Na and Sr) and F3 (Ca and Mg). The rest of the elements were eliminated from further analysis because they had a low share of communality or low tendency to form independent factors. Even typical potentially toxic elements, such as arsenic, cadmium, lead and zinc, are not isolated into anthropogenic geochemical associations by multivariate statistical methods still show some trends of local anthropogenic enrichment. Thus, the distributions of the arsenic, copper, lead and zinc have higher contents in the road dusts from the north and south parts of the city of Bitola and around of the REK Bitola, showing influence of the industrial and urban activities from the city indicating the distribution of fly ash from thermoelectrical power plant. Key words: road dust; pollution; heavy metals; thermoelectric power plant; Bitola; North Macedoni