Analysis of cancerogenic elements determined in PM10 near the copper smelter in Bor, Serbia

Abstract

The concentrations of four cancerogenic elements (Pb, Cd, Ni, and As) determined in PM10 at three locations in the urban areas near the copper smelter in Bor (Serbia) were analyzed in the period from January 2017 to May 2020. The aim of this research was to examine the correlations between the selected elements and to compare them with those obtained previously. The reason for this is the fact that the new copper smelter started operating in Bor in 2016. The results presented here showed that the average content of As in PM10 was over the annual national limit at all sampling points for the total period of observation, as well the contents of Cd in PM10 at the sampling point Jugopetrol. The content of Pb in PM10 was over the annual limit only at sampling point Jugoperol. The correlations between the As-Pb, As-Cd, and Cd-Pb, at all sampling points, mostly vary from very strong (r>0.8) and strong (0.8>r>0.6) to moderate (0.6>r>0.4). Also, compared to previously obtained results, these correlations are generally stronger. Such results indicate that As, Cd, and Pb determined in PM10 mostly originate from the same source, the copper smelter in Bor. Opposite to that, correlations of Ni with other selected elements are mostly very weak (r<0.2) to moderate. This shows that Ni mostly originated from natural sources.

Concentrations and chemical composition of PM10 and PM2.5 in the Town library in Bor, Serbia

“…Wind direction and temperature are also changed during the night, which changes particle resuspension dynamics in ambient air [14]. In the literature, copper smelting is associated with significant concentrations of Cu, as well as with elevated levels of As, Zn, and Cd [16]. All mentioned chemical elements were determined in both PM10 and PM2.5 fractions in the library.…”