THE IMPACT OF THE FERRO-NICKEL SMELTERiS FUGITIVE DUST EMISSION ON HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN SOILS AND WHITETOP (LEPIDIUM DRABA L.) IN KAVADARCI, REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

摘要

Smelter plants pose a major threat to ecosystems, since emitted and deposited metals are persistent for a long period, thus over time they can accumulate in various organisms.The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of fugitive dust emission from the ferro-nickel smelter Feni Industries - Kavadarci on soil and plants, by investigating the heavy metals content in: roots, stems and leaves of Lepidium draba. Soil and plant samples were collected from 14 locations at different distances from the smelter. The content of the following heavy metals was analyzed: Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Fe. DTPA-extractable soil heavy metal content, as well as soil pH were also determined and analysed. The findings of the study showed that concentrations of some heavy metals (Ni, Fe) in leaves (rinsed and not rinsed) and stems of Lepidium draba decreas with distance from the smelter plant. This implies that smelter's fugitive dust emission contributes to elevated concentration in the plant organs of the heavy metals which are the main constituent of the processed ore (Ni and Fe). On the other hand, the ferro-nickel smelter does not have significant impact on the content of heavy metals in the soils.