Geochemical properties of attic, household and street dust in the vicinity of the cement plant in Anhovo, Slovenia

Abstract

Household, attic, and street dust were sampled and analysed in the influential area of cement plant located in Anhovo, Slovenia. The aim of the work is to determine the geochemical properties of the three types of dust, which are the result of geogenic factors, past and current influences of the cement plant, and other factors. The study covered the settlements of Anhovo, Morsko, Deskle, Ložice, Gorenje Polje, Goljevica, Ravna, Krstenica, Kanal and Bodrež. The levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl) and zinc (Zn) were determined in the sieved dust samples (<0.063 mm) after agua regia digestion.

The composition of dusts varies greatly between the three dust types and also between sample sites. The ranges between the minimum and maximum levels are mostly large, which indicates different sources in different parts of the studied area and anthropogenic influences. The results show that the studied area is characterized by relatively high Hg levels in all three types of dust. The Hg levels are significantly higher compared to town of Maribor, the Slovenian countryside and Slovenian urban areas. Based on the presented data, we can conclude that the levels of Hg in the studied three dust types and in the environment is influenced by anthropogenic sources that have been active in the past and sources that are still active today. The studied area is also characterized by slightly higher Tl and Mn levels compared to other data for Slovenia.