This study highlights the consequences on soil pollution of one hundred years
of manufacturing in the Copper Mining and Smelting Complex RTB-Bor (Serbia).
Soil sediments were taken via a probe from the surface layer of the soil at
twelve different measuring points. The measuring points were all within 20 km
of the smelting plant, which included both urban and rural zones. Soil
sampling was performed using a soil core sampler in such way that a core of a
soil of radius 5 cm and depth of 30 cm was removed. Subsequently, the samples
were analyzed for pH and heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, As, Cd, Mn, Ni
and Hg) using different spectrometric methods. The obtained results for the
heavy metal contents in the samples show high values: 2,540 mg kg-1 Cu; 230
mg kg-1 Pb; 6 mg kg-1 Cd; 530 mg kg-1 Ni; 1,300 mg kg-1 Mn; 260 mg kg-1 As
and 0.3 mg kg-1 Hg. In this study, critical zones of polluted soil were
identified and ranked according to their metal contents by the multicriteria
decision method PROMETHEE/GAIA, which is the preferred multivariate method
commonly used in chemometric studies. The ranking results clearly showed that
the most polluted zones are at locations holding the vital functions of the
town. Therefore, due to the high bioavailability of heavy metals through
complex reactions with organic species in the sediments, consequences for
human health could drastically emerge if these metals enter the food chain.
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in woody plants and herbs near the large copper smelting plant
