Abstract
Problem statement: The objective of this research was to assess the d egree of soil pollution and also of Plant contamination with lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in Baia Mare city (located in NW Romania) area which used to be one of the most important nonferrous metallurgical centers in Romania. Approach: Soil and plant samples were collected from 3 distr icts of Baia Mare: Ferneziu, located near the metallurgical plant producing lead , S asar district, along the S asar River in the preferential direction of the wind blowing from the metallurgical plant and the central area (Center) of the city of Baia Mare. As reference area, Dura area was considered located in a less polluted zone. Th e Pb and Cd assay was carried out by inductively coup led plasma atomic emission spectrometry. Statistical analysis of the data was performed and correlations and similarities between the variables were highlighted. Principal component analysis was applied in order to improve the significance and to reduce the number of variables. Results: The highest contents of Pb and Cd both in soil and in plants were found in Ferneziu district where Pb average co ntent in soil was 4400 mg kg -1 Dry Weight (DW) at 0-10 cm depth and 3100 mg kg -1 DW at 10-20 cm depth while in plants ranged between 1.04-255 mg kg -1 DW. Cd content in soil was 29 mg kg -1 at 0-10 cm depth and 23 mg kg -1 at 10-20 cm depth. In plants, Cd content ranged between 0.015-4.81 mg kg -1 DW. In Sasar district and in Center area moderate soil pollution with Pb was found. Data ana lysis indicated significant correlations between Pb and Cd contents in the superficial soil level of 0- 10 cm as well as between Pb and Cd contents in soil at the depth of 10-20 cm, showing that the powder coming from the metallurgical plants is the common source of these elements. Conclusion: The study shows a non-uniform spread of Pb and Cd both in soil and plants in Baia Mare city, due to anthropog enic influences. The highest contents of these elements were found in Ferneziu area in soil as wel l as in plant samples. Remediation measures are required prevalently in Ferneziu district around th e lead smelter.
Highlights
The town of Baia Mare used to be an important nonferrous metallurgical center where heavy metals like Cu and Pb have been extracted and processed from centuries
The bone lead deposits alter its Principal component analysis was applied in order mineralization processes, lead being in competition to refine the data, to improve the significance and to with the intra- and extra-cell calcium ions
The highest contents of these elements both in soils samples and in plants were found in Ferneziu area, and in some locations in Săsar district
Summary
The town of Baia Mare used to be an important nonferrous metallurgical center where heavy metals like Cu and Pb have been extracted and processed from centuries. Due to the aerial emissions from a metallurgical plant “Romplumb” that has been city, the soil in Baia Mare area is highly polluted with heavy metals: Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn (Damian et al, 2008; Levei et al, 2009) and with As (Oprea et al, 2010) and (Senila et al, 2011). Pb and Cd in soil represent a major environmental and human health concern due to their high toxicity, low biodegradability and cumulative tendency. Cd are not essential microelements and their presence in the environment in concentrations that exceed the normal values may seriously affect living organisms.
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