Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals

Global awareness of the harmful effects of heavy metal contamination in soil has increased significantly. Understanding the vertical distribution of oxides and elements is vital for tracing the history of potential contamination. Thus, this study focuses on deep sediment cores primarily composed of...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Milica Vidak Vasić, Milena Radomirović, Pedro M. Velasco, Nevenka Mijatović
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Agronomy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3009
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846106283901452288
author Milica Vidak Vasić
Milena Radomirović
Pedro M. Velasco
Nevenka Mijatović
author_facet Milica Vidak Vasić
Milena Radomirović
Pedro M. Velasco
Nevenka Mijatović
author_sort Milica Vidak Vasić
collection DOAJ
description Global awareness of the harmful effects of heavy metal contamination in soil has increased significantly. Understanding the vertical distribution of oxides and elements is vital for tracing the history of potential contamination. Thus, this study focuses on deep sediment cores primarily composed of quartz and clay minerals from a small village in the western Tamnava Basin of Serbia. The aim was to assess the vertical distribution of 11 oxides and 21 elements and the ecological risks of eight heavy metals by analyzing 250 sediment samples from 18 boreholes at depths ranging from 5 to 58.5 m. Deep sediment core samples were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). Potential contamination levels were evaluated within the study area. Additionally, samples were analyzed for total carbonate and organic carbon contents and particles retained on a 0.063 mm sieve. Higher than permitted concentrations of vanadium (V), thallium (Tl), and barium (Ba) were found. Notably, this zone is located above a proposed lithium and boron mine in Gornje Nedeljice, making it crucial for monitoring efforts. Even if mining operations do not commence, examining the deep sediment layers in this rural area remains important. This study offers novel and valuable data on the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in undisturbed deep sediment, serving as a benchmark for future comparisons.
format Article
id doaj-art-8b59e4a1354f464daf199423a66b843a
institution Kabale University
issn 2073-4395
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Agronomy
spelling doaj-art-8b59e4a1354f464daf199423a66b843a2024-12-27T14:04:41ZengMDPI AGAgronomy2073-43952024-12-011412300910.3390/agronomy14123009Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy MetalsMilica Vidak Vasić0Milena Radomirović1Pedro M. Velasco2Nevenka Mijatović3Centre for Materials, Institute for Testing of Materials IMS, Bulevar Vojvode Mišića 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaInnovation Center, The Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11120 Belgrade, SerbiaEscuela Superior de Ingeniería y Tecnología, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Avda. de la Paz, 137, 26007 Logroño, SpainCentre for Materials, Institute for Testing of Materials IMS, Bulevar Vojvode Mišića 43, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaGlobal awareness of the harmful effects of heavy metal contamination in soil has increased significantly. Understanding the vertical distribution of oxides and elements is vital for tracing the history of potential contamination. Thus, this study focuses on deep sediment cores primarily composed of quartz and clay minerals from a small village in the western Tamnava Basin of Serbia. The aim was to assess the vertical distribution of 11 oxides and 21 elements and the ecological risks of eight heavy metals by analyzing 250 sediment samples from 18 boreholes at depths ranging from 5 to 58.5 m. Deep sediment core samples were analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF). Potential contamination levels were evaluated within the study area. Additionally, samples were analyzed for total carbonate and organic carbon contents and particles retained on a 0.063 mm sieve. Higher than permitted concentrations of vanadium (V), thallium (Tl), and barium (Ba) were found. Notably, this zone is located above a proposed lithium and boron mine in Gornje Nedeljice, making it crucial for monitoring efforts. Even if mining operations do not commence, examining the deep sediment layers in this rural area remains important. This study offers novel and valuable data on the concentrations of potentially toxic elements in undisturbed deep sediment, serving as a benchmark for future comparisons.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3009geochemical compositionrural sediment layers profilesvertical contamination distributionmulti-index approachecological risk assessmentwestern Serbia
spellingShingle Milica Vidak Vasić
Milena Radomirović
Pedro M. Velasco
Nevenka Mijatović
Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
Agronomy
geochemical composition
rural sediment layers profiles
vertical contamination distribution
multi-index approach
ecological risk assessment
western Serbia
title Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
title_full Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
title_fullStr Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
title_full_unstemmed Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
title_short Geochemical Profiles of Deep Sediment Layers from the Kolubara District (Western Serbia): Contamination Status and Associated Risks of Heavy Metals
title_sort geochemical profiles of deep sediment layers from the kolubara district western serbia contamination status and associated risks of heavy metals
topic geochemical composition
rural sediment layers profiles
vertical contamination distribution
multi-index approach
ecological risk assessment
western Serbia
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/14/12/3009
work_keys_str_mv AT milicavidakvasic geochemicalprofilesofdeepsedimentlayersfromthekolubaradistrictwesternserbiacontaminationstatusandassociatedrisksofheavymetals
AT milenaradomirovic geochemicalprofilesofdeepsedimentlayersfromthekolubaradistrictwesternserbiacontaminationstatusandassociatedrisksofheavymetals
AT pedromvelasco geochemicalprofilesofdeepsedimentlayersfromthekolubaradistrictwesternserbiacontaminationstatusandassociatedrisksofheavymetals
AT nevenkamijatovic geochemicalprofilesofdeepsedimentlayersfromthekolubaradistrictwesternserbiacontaminationstatusandassociatedrisksofheavymetals