SHORT COMMUNICATION
Identifying New ‘Hotspot’ Heavy Metal
Contamination in Industrial Zone Soil
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1
PSRI Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska,
Bosnia and Herzegovina
2
City of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
3
Apeiron Pan-European University, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, BiH, Republic of Srpska,
Bosnia and Hercegovina
Submission date: 2019-08-06
Final revision date: 2019-10-10
Acceptance date: 2019-10-15
Online publication date: 2020-03-02
Publication date: 2020-04-21
Corresponding author
Predrag Ilić
PSRI Institute for Protection and Ecology of the Republic of Srpska, Banja Luka, Vidovdanska 43, 78000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(4):2987-2993
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ABSTRACT
Concentrations of dangerous and harmful substances (PCB, TPH and heavy metals) were determined
in soils in an industrial zone near the center of Banja Luka and the Vrbas River. PCB, TPH and heavy
metals were found in the analysis location as a result of general anthropogenic factors. Contaminated
soils have a negative impact on human health and the environment. The mean concentrations of Pb,
TPH, Cu, PCB, Ni, Cd and Hg were 4874, 4105, 545.7, 282.1, 225.7, 12.15 and 5.896 mg/kg, respectively.
Results show that concentrations were very high for all analyzed parameters, and these values indicated
that the soil was highly polluted. Principal component analysis has shown that industrial factors and
human activities are the cause of pollution. At the location it is necessary to determine the origin of
pollution and recultivation and remediation activity of planned activity.