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Abstract
The investigation of the contamination in soil, plants and groundwater revealed a spatial evolution, with an increasing trend in the Cr, Fe, Ni, Mn and Co contents in soils from the Assopos to Thiva basin, followed by C. Evia and Ni-laterite deposits, suggesting that the latter and their parent ophiolites are a potential source for these metals. In contrast, the contamination in groundwater by Cr(VI), ranging from 2 to 360 μg/L Cr, and a varying degree of salinization is probably due to both human activities and natural processes. A diverse source for the contamination of soil and groundwater in the Assopos-Thiva basins is consistent with the increasing trend of the Mg/Si ratio and Cr(VI) concentration in water. The use of deep karst-type aquifer instead of the shallow-Neogene one may provide a solution to the crucial environmental problem. The selective extraction by EDTA and alkaline solution showed that Cr and Fe are less available than Mn. The Cr contents in plants range from <1 to tens of mg/kg, due probably to the high resistance of chromite. However, the average Crtotal contents in plants/crops are higher than normal or sufficient values, whilst Crtotal accumulation [(% metals in plants × 100)/metal in soil] and Cr(VI) accumulation are relatively low. There is a very good positive correlation between accumulation factors for Cr and Fe (R2 = 0.92), suggesting a similarity concerning their uptake.
Highlights
Chromium has long been used in many industrial processes, since Cr(VI) is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, and it is present in significant contents in ultramafic rocks and Ni-laterites, which are their weathering products
Present integrated approach is a compilation of analytical data from several analyses of soil, plant-crops and groundwater samples and preliminary leaching data aiming to the evaluation of the extent and intensity of the contamination, the metal bio-availability, the percentage of Cr(VI) transferred into plants/crops and the potential sources of the contamination
Average metal values in soils range from 50 to 190 ppm Cr in the Oropos area, from 130 to 520 ppm at the Avlona area (Assopos basin), 230 to 310 ppm Cr in the Thiva basin, with an increasing trend from the southern part towards north (Mouriki), which is in a close proximity with Ni-laterite deposits and ophiolites (Table 1; Figure 2), and a wide range of Cr in
Summary
Chromium has long been used in many industrial processes, since Cr(VI) is an excellent corrosion inhibitor, and it is present in significant contents in ultramafic rocks and Ni-laterites, which are their weathering products. Regulations from the European Union, Japan, South Africa, and the U.S have established permissible exposure limits for air, dust, wastewater, drinking water, soil and waste. Since the source of contamination by heavy metals, including Cr(VI), in water soil and biota, is a subject of debate [5,6,7,8,9,10] the Assopos (Oropos, Avlona, Avlida)—Thiva basins, and central Evia (Messapia) were selected to investigate the effective influence of industry versus natural processes, such as ophiolites and/or Ni-laterites, to the soil, plant and groundwater contamination. Present integrated approach is a compilation of analytical data from several analyses of soil, plant-crops (cultivated and non cultivated) and groundwater samples and preliminary leaching data aiming to the evaluation of the extent and intensity of the contamination, the metal bio-availability, the percentage of Cr(VI) transferred into plants/crops (bio-accumulation) and the potential sources of the contamination. This paper is arising from the 3rd International Conference on Industrial and Hazardous Waste Management, held in Chania, Crete, in September 2012
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