Monitoring of platinum and rare earth elements in environment of eastern Croatia

Abstract

Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je analizirati podatke o koncentracijama 18 elemenata: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir i Pt u okolišnim i biološkim uzorcima na području istočne Hrvatske. Nisu utvrđene statističke značajne razlike u koncentracijama analiziranih elemenata u urinu i serumu između stanovnika gradova i stanovnika manjih mjesta. Također, nije utvrđena povezanost između koncentracija 18 elemenata u uzorcima tla i maslačka (Taraxacum officinale). Najveće koncentracije Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Pd i Rh pronađene su u uzorcima maslačka prikupljenih s poljoprivrednih površina, dok su manje koncentracije pronađene u uzorcima maslačka prikupljenih uz prometnice. Pronađene su i statistički značajne razlike u koncentracijama između uzoraka maslačka s poljoprivrednih i uzoraka maslačka s nepoljoprivrednih područja, što ukazuje na potrebu daljnjeg praćenja u okviru ekološko-preventivnih aktivnosti.The aim of this study was to analyze data on concentrations of 18 elements: La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Pt in environmental and biological samples cellected in the territory of eastern Croatia. No statistically significant differences were found comparing the concentrations of the analyzed elements in urine and serum samples between urban and small-town residents. Also, correlation wasn't found between concentrations of 18 elements in soil and dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) samples. The highest concentrations of Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Pd, and Rh were found in dandelion samples collected from agricultural land, while smaller concentrations were found in dandelion samples collected along roads. There were also statistically significant differences in concentrations between dandelion samples from agricultural and non-agricultural areas, indicating the need for further monitoring in the context of environmental-preventive activities