Geochemistry of Croatian superhigh-organic-sulphur Raa coal, imported low-S coal, and bottom ash: their Se and trace metal fingerprints in seawater, clover, foliage, and mushroom specimens

Medunić, Gordana; Kuharić, Željka; Krivohlavek, Adela; Fiket, Željka; Rađenović, Ankica; Gödel, Kristina; Kampić, Štefica; Kniewald, Goran

doi:10.1504/ijogct.2018.10006334

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Vanadium was found elevated in stream samples, while its levels in seawater were only slightly below world values. These ndings are in accordance with Kendall's tau correlation coef cients (>0.99, p < 0.05) calculated for all the pairs of S, Se, V and U in SHOS Raša coal samples, reported by Meduni et al (2017). Uranium is a non-essential, chemotoxic, radiotoxic, and carcinogenic element, while V is an essential nutrient for many animals, but it can be toxic depending on its speciation and oxidation state (Reimann & de Caritat, 1998).…”

Section: Element Levels In Water Samplessupporting

confidence: 90%

“…SHOS Raša coal seams were mined at nearby localities, from the second half of the 18th century until the late 1990s (Meduni et al, 2016a). A medical study (Mohorovi , 2003) established the correlation between ground SO 2 levels and health problems of pregnant women and small children due to exceptionally high S values in superhigh-organic-sulphur (SHOS) Raša coal (Meduni et al, 2017). Meduni et al (2016b) determined that soil around a coalred power plant (PPP), which used SHOS coal during the period between 1970 and 2000, is severely polluted with S, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Se, and Cd, while ues are markedly increased in SHOS Raša coal compared to coal Clarke values (Yudovich & Ketris, 2006), Meduni et al (2017) found slightly increased Se in aquatic (seawater of the Plomin Bay) and herbal (clover and foliage) samples.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Selenium and Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Tissues of Three Non-Migratory Birds Exposed to Soil, Water, and Aquatic Sediment Contaminated With Seleniferous Raša Coal

Medunić

Kuharić

Fiket

et al. 2018

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Coal mining and coal combustion release environmental contaminants which stay at emission sites for many decades. This paper reports total Se and other potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Hg, Pb, Sr, U, V, and Zn) in lettuce, potato, and tissues (liver, kidney, heart, and muscle) of three non-migratory bird species (pigeon, jay, and black coot) from the Raša Bay area (North Adriatic, Croatia). They have presumably been exposed to elevated levels of the mentioned elements in garden soil, surface water, and aquatic sediment contaminated with superhigh-organic-sulphur (SHOS) Raša coal, highly enriched in S, Se, V, and U. Results point at selenium contamination of stream water (up to 78 g/L total Se in a non-ltered sample), which is well above the Croatian regulatory threshold of 10 g/L total Se. The stream drains a site of the former coal-separation unit, and an associated bottom sediment contains up to 10.8 mg/kg total Se, which is also above the safe level of 0.60 mg/kg total Se. Moreover, values of Mo, U, V, and Sr, elements commonly elevated in SHOS coal varieties, were also increased in the majority of water samples as well as in analysed vegetables, soil, and aquatic sediments. Although Cu, Zn, Pb, and V were slightly increased in liver samples of birds, more in black coot than the other two birds, selenium values were found to be adequate for their normal growth. The fact that Se can be environmentally hazardous and toxic to life, even in small doses, warrants further research on this topic.

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Section: Element Levels In Water Samplessupporting

confidence: 90%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selenium and Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Tissues of Three Non-Migratory Birds Exposed to Soil, Water, and Aquatic Sediment Contaminated With Seleniferous Raša Coal

Medunić

Kuharić

Fiket

et al. 2018

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Solid Green Biodiesel Catalysts Derived from Coal Fly Ash

Stanković¹,

Pavlović²,

Marinković³

et al. 2020

Renewable Energy - Resources, Challenges and Applications

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Coal fly ash (CFA) is generated during the combustion of coal for energy production. Many studies are based on its utilization as the most abundant, cheap aluminosilicate industrial residue, which is recognized as a risk for the environment and human health. The present review is focused on CFA origin, chemical properties, and its catalytic application for biodiesel production. The aluminosilicate nature and the presence of rare earth elements make CFA suitable for different adsorption, catalytic, and extraction processes for obtaining valuable products including alternative fuels and pure elements. However, the presence of toxic elements is a potential environmental problem, which should be solved in order to avoid soil, water, and air pollution. The most used modification methods are alkali activation, hydrothermal, and thermal treatment that improve the structural, morphological, and textural properties. The active catalytic form could be obtained by impregnation or ion exchange method. It was found that such synthesized materials have significant catalytic potential in the biofuel chemistry. In the case of biodiesel production, the high values of conversion or yield can be achieved under mild low-energy reaction conditions in the presence of low-cost waste-based catalysts.

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Essential role of multi-element data in interpreting elevated element concentrations in areas impacted by both natural and anthropogenic influences

Petrović,

Medunić,

Fiket

2023

PeerJ

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Background This article presents a detailed analysis of a dataset consisting of 27 elements found in soils, soil eluates, and vegetables from private gardens in a region with a long history of coal mining and burning. With coal being one of the world’s most significant energy sources, and previous studies highlighting elevated element levels in vegetables from this region, the objective of this study was to identify the factors that impact soil geochemistry and metal(loid) uptake in plants. Methods Total major and trace element concentrations were analyzed in soils, soil eluates and vegetables by high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The vegetable samples included six species: fennel, garlic, lettuce, parsley, onion, and radicchio. Each plant was divided into roots, stems, leaves, and/or bulbs and analyzed separately. In addition, the soil pollution status, bioavailable fractions and transfer factors from soil and soil eluates to different plant parts were determined. Results The comprehensive dataset revealed that, apart from the substrate enriched with various elements (Al, As, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sn, Ti, U, V, and Zn), other anthropogenic factors such as the legacy of coal mining and combustion activities, associated industries in the area, transport, and agricultural practices, also influence the elevated element concentrations (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Se) in locally grown vegetables. The transfer factors based on element concentrations in aqueous soil eluates and element bioavailable fractions confirmed to be an effective tool for evaluating metal uptake in plants, emphazising to some extent the effects of plant species and revealing unique patterns for each pollution source within its environmental context (e.g., Cd, Mo, S, and Se in this case). The study highlights the crucial importance of utilizing comprehensive datasets that encompass a multitude of factors when interpreting the impacts of element uptake in edible plants.

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Geochemistry of Croatian superhigh-organic-sulphur Raa coal, imported low-S coal, and bottom ash: their Se and trace metal fingerprints in seawater, clover, foliage, and mushroom specimens

Cited by 3 publications

References 39 publications

Selenium and Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Tissues of Three Non-Migratory Birds Exposed to Soil, Water, and Aquatic Sediment Contaminated With Seleniferous Raša Coal

Selenium and Heavy Metal Levels in Vegetables and Tissues of Three Non-Migratory Birds Exposed to Soil, Water, and Aquatic Sediment Contaminated With Seleniferous Raša Coal

Solid Green Biodiesel Catalysts Derived from Coal Fly Ash

Essential role of multi-element data in interpreting elevated element concentrations in areas impacted by both natural and anthropogenic influences

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