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Distribution of some elements in surface soil over the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia

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Abstract

The results of a first systematic study of spatial distribution of different elements in surface soil over of the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia, known for its nickel industrial activity are reported. The investigated region (360 km2) is covered by a sampling grid of 2 × 2 km2; whereas the sampling grid of 1 × 1 km2 was applied in the urban zone and around the ferronickel smelter plant (117 km2). In total 344 soil samples from 172 locations were collected. At each sampling point soil samples were collected at two depths, topsoil (0–5 cm) and bottom soil (20–30 cm). Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was applied for the determination of 36 elements (Ag, Al, As, Au, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, La, Mn, Na, Mg, Mo, Ni, P, Pb, S, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Th, Tl, Ti, U, V, W and Zn). Data analysis and construction of maps were performed using the Paradox (ver. 9), Statistica (ver. 6.1), AutoDesk Map (ver. 2008) and Surfer (ver. 8.09) software. Four geogenic and three anthropogenic geochemical associations were established. Within the research, natural and anthropogenic enrichment with heavy metals was determined. Principally, the natural enrichment is related especially to Ni. Pollution by As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb and Zn is basically insignificant.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of the Republic of Macedonia for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, POB 162, 1000, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

    Trajče Stafilov

  2. Geological Survey of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Robert Šajn

  3. Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences, University Goce Delčev, Štip, Republic of Macedonia

    Blažo Boev & Sonja Lepitkova

  4. Institute of Agriculture, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia

    Julijana Cvetković, Duško Mukaetov & Marjan Andreevski

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  1. Trajče Stafilov
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Correspondence to Trajče Stafilov.

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Stafilov, T., Šajn, R., Boev, B. et al. Distribution of some elements in surface soil over the Kavadarci region, Republic of Macedonia. Environ Earth Sci 61, 1515–1530 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0467-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-010-0467-9

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