1. Oral bioaccessibility of potentially toxic elements in various environmental mediaMartin Gaberšek, Mateja Gosar, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: An important aspect of geochemical studies is determining health hazard of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Key information on PTEs behaviour in the human body in case of their ingestion is provided with the use of in vitro bioaccessibility tests. We analysed and compared oral bioaccessibility of a wide range of PTEs (As, Cd, Ce, Cr, Cu, Hg, La, Li, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Zn), including some that are not often studied but might pose a human health hazard, in soil, attic dust, street dust, and household dust, using Unified BARGE Method (UBM). Additionally, feasibility of usage of scanning electron microscope techniques in analyses of solid residuals of UBM phases was tested. Results show that bioaccessible fractions (BAFs) of PTEs vary significantly between individual samples of the same medium, between different media and between the gastric and gastro-intestinal phases. In soil, attic dust and street dust, bioaccessibility of individual PTE is mostly higher in gastric than in gastro-intestinal phase. The opposite is true for PTEs in household dust. In all four media, with the exception of Pb in household dust, among the most bioaccessible PTEs in gastric phase are Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn. During the transition from the stomach to small intestine, the mean BAFs of most elements in soil, attic dust, and street dust decreases. The most bioaccessible PTEs in gastro-intestinal phase are Cu, Cd, Ni, and As. Micromorphological and chemical characterisation at individual particle level before and after bioaccessibility test contribute significantly to the understanding of oral bioaccessibility.
Keywords: urban geochemistry, UBM, soil, attic dust, street dust, household dust
Published in DiRROS: 10.07.2024; Views: 28; Downloads: 9
 Full text (2,95 MB) |
2. Vsebnosti potencialno strupenih elementov v sedimentih in vodah reke Meže in njenih pritokov, ki odvodnjavajo odlagališča rudarskih odpadkovMateja Gosar, Špela Bavec, Miloš Miler, Martin Gaberšek, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Predstavljeni so rezultati spremljanja vsebnosti potencialno strupenih elementov (PSE) v sedimentih (v letih 2013, 2017, 2020) in vodah (v letih 2017, 2020) reke Meže ter njenih pritokov, ki odvodnjavajo odlagališča rudarskih odpadkov. Skupno 13 vzorčnih mest je vzpostavljenih v vzorčni shemi, ki omogoča dolgoročno opazovanje vpliva odlagališč rudarskih odpadkov. V sedimentih so zaradi vplivov več kot 300-letnega delovanja rudarsko-predelovalne industrije močno povečane vsebnosti PSE, predvsem Pb, Zn, Cd, Mo in As, ki s časom precej nihajo. Razlike v vsebnostih na istih lokacijah v različnih letih so najbolj izrazite v pritokih reke Meže, ki drenirajo odlagališča rudarskih odpadkov. Na vsebnosti imajo pomemben vpliv hidrološki pogoji, saj so ob višjem vodostaju in višjem pretoku vsebnosti PSE večje. Vodna erozija odlagališč ima pomemben vpliv na dotok onesnaženega materiala v vodotoke. V nasprotju s pritoki, v zgornjem toku reke Meže nismo opazili večjega vpliva višjega vodostaja in pretoka na vsebnosti PSE v sedimentih. Dolvodno od Žerjava so nihanja vsebnosti med posameznimi leti oz. različnimi hidrološkimi pogoji tudi v Meži večja. Predstavljeni rezultati kažejo, da so v sedimentih reke Meže in njenih pritokov vsebnosti Pb, Zn, Cd, Mo in As zelo velike ter krepko presegajo zakonsko določeno kritično vrednost za tla. V površinski vodi so vsebnosti PSE lokalno povečane in se s časom bistveno ne spreminjajo. Glede na primerjavo z zakonodajnimi smernicami, so v obravnavanih vodah lokalno presežene koncentracije Pb, Cd in Zn. Ocenjujemo, da je dinamika obremenjenosti sedimentov reke Meže s PSE vzdolž krajev Črna na Koroškem, Žerjav in Mežica zelo kompleksna. Poleg odlagališč rudarskih odpadkov na vsebnosti PSE v sedimentih in vodah vplivajo tudi razpršeni viri v okolju, kot so onesnažena tla in poplavne ravnice ter njihova različna stopnja onesnaženosti, saj je okolje obremenjeno zaradi dolgoletnih rudarskih in talilniških dejavnosti. Dodaten okoljski vpliv ima morda tudi sedanja industrijska dejavnost v dolini reke Meže.
Keywords: rudarjenje, rudarski odpadki, odlagališča odpadkov, potencialno strupeni elementi, rečni sedimenti, monitoring, onesnaženje okolja
Published in DiRROS: 09.07.2024; Views: 33; Downloads: 7
Full text (3,23 MB) |
3. Evaluating mineral matter dynamics within the peatland as reflected in water compositionValentina Pezdir, Luka Serianz, Mateja Gosar, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Peatland hydrology plays an important role in preserving or changing the record in any consideration of past atmospheric deposition records in peat bogs. The Šijec bog, located on the Pokljuka plateau in Slovenia, is one of the largest ombrotrophic peatlands. We sampled the surface pools, pore water, drainage from the peatland, and karst streams not connected to the peatland. Additionally, we sampled the precipitation, as ombrotrophic peatlands receive mineral matter solely from the atmosphere. The results of the evaluation of the chemical and isotopic composition indicated different origins of dissolved mineral matter in different water types. The components originating from the bedrock and surrounding soils (Ca, Mg, Al, Si, Sr) predominated in the streams. The chemical composition of the peatland drainage water revealed the significant removal of major components from the peatland, particularly elements like Al, Fe, and REE, and metals that are readily dissolved in an acidic environment or mobile in their reduced state. Despite their solubility, concentrations of metals (As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, Ti) and REE in surface pools remained higher than in the drainage due to incomplete elimination from the peatland. The composition of pore water reflects variations among the W and E parts of the peatland, indicating a heterogenous hydrological structure with different dynamics, such as an additional source of water at approximately 90 cm depth in the NW part. The chemical composition and isotope signature (18O and 2H) of pore water additionally indicated a heterogeneous recharge with residence times of less than a year. The overall analysis indicated a predominantly ombrotrophic type and a small part in the NW area of the peatland as a minerotrophic type of peat.
Keywords: peatland, hydrogeochemistry, isotopes
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2024; Views: 110; Downloads: 48
Full text (7,67 MB) |
4. Application of multivariate statistical methods for determining geochemical trends of elements on the territory of SloveniaRobert Šajn, Mateja Gosar, Jasminka Alijagić, Tamara Teršič, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The main objective of this study is to map multi-element geochemical anomalies in soil on a regional scale. We aimed to determine and evaluate the baseline geochemical values and main geochemical trends in soil that may serve as reference values against any future changes. A total of 817 topsoil samples (0–10 cm) were collected in a 5 × 5 km grid and analyzed for 35 elements using ICP-ES after multi-acid digestions (HClO4/HNO3/HCl/HF) and 53 elements using ICP-MS after modified aqua regia digestion (HCl/HNO3/H2O). The analytical results for the two different digestion methods (multi-acid digestion vs. aqua regia) were also compared for each chemical element. Multivariate statistical methods were applied to identify the geochemical trends and main sources of trace elements over the territory of Slovenia. Based on these results, seven natural and one mixed natural/anthropogenic geochemical association were established. The contents and trends of the determined factors are presented according to 8 natural units, 4 drainage areas, and geological units characteristic of Slovenia. The identified anthropogenic geochemical association combines toxic elements (Ag, Bi, Cd, Hg, P, Pb, S, Sn, and Zn). Increased values of these elements can be found in mining areas and metallurgic centers, in Quaternary sediments of the Sava River, and Adriatic Basin as the consequence of past mining activities and in the Julian Alps, where their origin could be connected to the atmospheric deposition.
Keywords: soil, geochemical mapping, distribution of geochemical elements, factor analysis, cluster analysis
Published in DiRROS: 04.01.2024; Views: 370; Downloads: 87
Full text (9,92 MB) |
5. |
6. Doktrinarni problemi diagnostičnega algoritma retroperitonealnega prostoraJurij Us, Franci-Stanko Marolt, Marjeta Stanovnik, Jože Stropnik, Erika Brenčič, Marjeta Demšar, V. Istenič, E. Baretič-Kolar, Marko Kralj, 1982, professional article Keywords: radiologija, intervencijska radiologija
Published in DiRROS: 14.09.2023; Views: 338; Downloads: 112
Full text (302,79 KB) |
7. |
8. Evasion of gaseous elemental mercury from forest and urban soils contaminated by historical and modern ore roasting processes (Idrija, Slovenia)Federico Floreani, Elena Pavoni, Mateja Gosar, Stefano Covelli, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Considerable amounts of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg0) can be released into the atmosphere from Hg-enriched substrates, such as those from former mining areas, posing a potential environmental threat. In this work, Hg0 fluxes at the soil–air interface under natural vegetation covers were measured in various locations within the Idrija Hg mining area (Slovenia) and its surroundings. Sites were selected in order to compare Hg0 fluxes from both forest soils heavily impacted by historical ore roasting and urban soils characterised by a different degree of Hg enrichment due to the natural occurrence of Hg in rocks or recent mining and roasting processes. Replicate measurements at each site were conducted using a non-steady state flux chamber coupled with a real-time Hg0 analyser (Lumex RA-915M). Moreover, topsoil samples (0–2 cm) were analysed for Hg total concentration and speciation. Cinnabar was the predominant Hg form in almost all the sites. Despite Hg0 being undetectable in soils using thermo-desorption, substantial emissions were observed (70.7–701.8 ng m−2 h−1). Urban soils in a naturally enriched area showed on average the highest Hg0 fluxes, whereas relatively low emissions were found at the historical roasting site, which is currently forested, despite the significantly high total Hg content in soils (up to 219.0 and 10,400 mg kg−1, respectively). Overall, our findings confirm that shading by trees or litter may effectively limit the amount of Hg0 released into the atmosphere even from extremely enriched soils, thus acting as a natural mitigation.
Keywords: legacy soil contamination, Hg mining, gaseous Hg fluxes, flux chamber, ore roasting, Hg speciation
Published in DiRROS: 30.06.2023; Views: 555; Downloads: 149
Full text (3,86 MB) |
9. Solid carriers of potentially toxic elements and their fate in stream sediments in the area affected by iron ore mining and processingSaša Kos, Nina Zupančič, Mateja Gosar, Miloš Miler, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The potential environmental impact of historical mining and ore processing on stream sediments and water was studied in a small siderite iron ore deposit with diverse sulfide mineral paragenesis. The main aim was to characterize solid carriers of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in stream sediments and mine waste, to understand their fate in fluvial systems. General mineralogy (X-ray powder diffraction) and individual solid PTE carriers (scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy) were correlated with the geochemical composition of stream sediments, mine waste, and stream waters (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). Primary solid PTE carriers were pyrite, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, Hg-bearing sphalerite, galena, and siderite. Slightly alkaline and oxidizing conditions in stream water promoted the transformation of primary phases into secondary PTE carriers. Fe(Mn)-oxide/oxyhydroxides were major sinks for Pb, Zn, and As. Compared to background levels, Co (14.6 ± 2.1 mg/kg), Cu (30 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Ni (32.1 ± 2.9 mg/kg), Pb (64.5 ± 16.4 mg/kg), Zn (175.3 ± 22.5 mg/kg), As (81.1 ± 63.7 mg/kg), and Hg (2 ± 0.8 mg/kg) were elevated in mining area. Mine waste contained similar PTE carriers as stream sediments, but much higher PTE contents. Prevailingly low PTE concentrations in streams, with the exception of As (1.97 ± 2.4 µg/L) and Zn (4.5 ± 5.7 µg/L), indicate the stability of PTE carriers. Environmental effects were not significant, and additional monitoring is recommended.
Keywords: environmental mineralogy, environmental geochemistry, potentially toxic elements, stream sediments, solid phases, iron ore deposit, SEM/EDS
Published in DiRROS: 16.11.2022; Views: 682; Downloads: 203
Full text (8,07 MB) |
10. Characterization of atmospheric deposition as the only mineral matter input to ombrotrophic bogValentina Pezdir, Martin Gaberšek, Mateja Gosar, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Ombrotrophic peatlands contain a very small percentage of mineral matter that they receive exclusively from atmospheric deposition. Mineral matter deposited on the Šijec bog was characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). We collected solid atmospheric deposition from snow, rainwater, and using passive samplers. Samples were collected at average atmospheric conditions and after two dust events. Size, morphology, and chemical composition of individual particles were determined. We distinguished four main particle groups: silicates, carbonates, organic particles, and Fe-oxyhydroxides. Silicate particles are further divided into quartz and aluminosilicates. Proportions of these groups vary between samples and between sample types. In all samples, silicate particles predominate. Samples affected by dust events are richer in solid particles. This is well observed in passive deposition samples. Carbonates and organic particles represent smaller fractions and are probably of local origin. Iron-oxyhydroxides make up a smaller, but significant part of particles and are, according to their shape and chemical composition, of both geogenic and anthropogenic origin. Estimated quantity and percentage of main groups vary throughout the year and are highly dependent on weather conditions. Dust events represent periods of increased deposition and contribute significantly to mineral matter input to peatlands.
Keywords: atmospheric deposition, SEM/EDS, mineral matter, peatland
Published in DiRROS: 08.09.2022; Views: 693; Downloads: 303
Full text (3,51 MB)
This document has many files! More... |
