ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Pollution and Distribution
of Heavy Metals in the Soil Near the Flotation
Tailings Gornje Polje
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University of Priština, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Кnjaza Мiloša 7, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Submission date: 2021-12-04
Final revision date: 2022-03-25
Acceptance date: 2022-03-29
Online publication date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2022-09-01
Corresponding author
Jovana Galjak
Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Кnjaza Мiloša, 38220, Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2022;31(5):4097-4106
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ABSTRACT
This paper refers to the distribution of heavy metals in soil located near the Gornje Polje flotation
tailings in Zvečan, in North Kosovo. Physical and chemical properties, determination of total metal
concentration by acid digestion and sequential extraction scheme according to BCR (Community Bureau
reference) were applied to soil samples. X-Ray diffractometry and inductively coupled plasma-optical
emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used to analyze soil samples. The obtained results showed that
the flotation tailings Gornje Polje still contain quite significant amounts of solid waste, which can release
heavy metals into a potential source of pollution. The ratio between the mean concentrations of the
tested metals was determined in the order: Pb (3862 mg/kg)>Zn (950.45 mg/kg)>Cu (386.75 mg/kg)>
As (365.47 mg/kg)>Ni (220.87 mg/kg)>Cd (23.63 mg/kg). Pb, Zn and Cd showed the highest
oncentrations in mobile fractions in soil, compared to other metals. According to the calculated index
of potential environmental risk, it was confirmed that the mobility of Cd has a great impact on the
environment. The order of potential environmental risk is Cd>As>Pb for all samples of the analyzed
soil, and the most polluted places are near the tailings.