Abstract
The intense mineral extraction in mining areas during the last several decades has produced a large amount of waste material and tailings, which release toxic elements to the environment. The aim of the study was to determine in two vertical profiles/sections (1 and 2) the heavy metal contents of samples derived from six samples, three from each section located in the porphyry copper mine Buchim area, Republic North Macedonia. The results have been compared to new Dutchlist (DL) and Kabata-Pendias (KP) standards and the following was concluded: As values ranged 14.985÷60.131 mg kg-1 with 4 samples above the target value of the DL (29 mg kg-1 As) and 6 above standard values given in KP value (5 mg kg-1 As), in that context Co values ranged 11 ÷57 mg kg-1 with 6 values above the target value of the DL (9 mg kg-1 Co) and 5 above standard values given in KP value (12 mg kg-1 Co), Cr with range 29.32÷75.76 mg kg-1 with 6 over KP value (10 mg kg-1 Cr) and none above the target value of the DL (100 mg kg-1 Cr), Cu with range 2694÷6749 mg kg-1 with 6 samples above the target value of the DL (36 mg kg-1 Cu) and 6 above standard values given in KP value (20 mg kg-1 Cu), Ni with range 59.57÷105.98 mg kg-1 with 6 samples above the target value of the DL (35 mg kg-1 Ni) and 6 above standard values given in KP value (20 mg kg-1 Ni), Pb with range 27.06 ÷96.08 mg kg-1 with 1 sample above the target value of the DL (85 mg kg-1Pb) and 6 above standard values given in KP value (25 mg kg-1Pb), Zn with range 147÷273 mg kg-1 with 6 over target value of the DL (140 mg kg-1 Zn) and 6 above standard KP value (64 mg kg-1 Zn), V with range 34.44÷92.57 mg kg-1 with 5 over target value of the DL (42 mg kg-1 V) and one above KP value (90 mg kg-1 V).In order to compare the level of contamination, the contamination factor (𝐶𝑓 𝑖 ), degree of contamination (Cd), and pollution load index (PLI) were computed. Serious numbers were found for Cu, as, Zn, Co and Ni, which exceeded standard values at almost all samples from both vertical sections. Compared from section 1 and section 2, pollution load index increased by 13.43%, which in almost all samples was classified as heavily polluted to extremely polluted. The fact that mining activities at the Buchim Mine last for almost 40 years, the presence of heavy metals in soils at a serious level is understandable. The high level of contamination is a result of heavy metal persistence and non-biodegradability.
Highlights
A very serious environmental problem around the World poses toxicity and persistence of heavy metals which are accumulated in the environment as the result of diverse industrial activities
Copper mines with open ore pit type, where the intense mineral extraction has produced a large amount of waste material accumulated on the heaps or tailings [6], represent potentially emission source of heavy metals in the air, soil and water
We would like to stress out that soil is a critical environment because it is able to accumulate pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities, such as mining and processing of ore, industry, agriculture, traffic, etc
Summary
A very serious environmental problem around the World poses toxicity and persistence of heavy metals which are accumulated in the environment as the result of diverse industrial activities. As it is already well known there are many different sources of heavy metal contaminants, including mining and metallurgical industries [1]. We would like to stress out that soil is a critical environment because it is able to accumulate pollutants produced by anthropogenic activities, such as mining and processing of ore, industry, agriculture, traffic, etc. The aim of the study was (1) to determine the level of contamination with heavy metals in the area of Buchim Lake just below the Buchim Mine waste dump in two vertical soil sections (1A-C, 2A-C), (2) to compare the level of contamination between the studied sections using the contamination factor, degree of contamination, and pollution load index, (3) to assess the correlation relationship between heavy metals and significant differences in heavy metal pollution between the studied sections
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