A mathematical model for the study of contamination of honey with lead and cadmium in Baia Mare area

Abstract

Eleven samples of honey collected from different locations spread in the Baia Mare area and situated at various distances from the pollution source, the company Romplumb S.A. (while it has been in operation and after its closure in January 2012) were studied to determine the presence of the Pb and Cd by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. It has been found that the concentration of lead and cadmium is generally correlated with the degree of pollution of the environment with these heavy metals, as well as with the distances from the pollution source and the directions of circulation of the contaminated air. In order to characterize the contamination of honey we introduced the index of contamination (IC) that shows a medium contamination for Pb and weak contamination for Cd in the period the pollution source was active and a weak contamination for Pb and no contamination for Cd after the closure of the metallurgical plant. We obtained a mathematical model representing the concentration of Pb in honey with respect to the geographical position in case the air was also contaminated with Pb, and showing more clearly the influence of air flows on the contamination of honey.