Nickel and chromium origin in Fluvisols of the Petruševec well field, Zagreb aquifer

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Stanko Ružičić
• Author: Borna-Ivan Balaž
• Author: Zoran Kovač
• Author: Lana Filipović
• Author: Zoran Nakić
• Author: Jasna Kopić
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Agriculture
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering; (Department of Mineralogy, Petrology and Mineral Resources)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: TECHNICAL SCIENCES; Mining, Petroleum and Geology Engineering
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Geology
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES; Interdisciplinary Technical Sciences
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOTECHNICAL SCIENCES; Agronomy

Abstract (english)

Soil plays an important role in the accumulation and transport of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), from surface into aquifer. PTEs can get to the environment naturally, but also from different kinds of contamination sources. In this study, a soil profile located in the vicinity of well field Petruševec, one of the most important well fields related to the public water supply of the City of Zagreb, was analyzed. The main aim of this study was to determine soil properties which can influence retention/mobilization of Ni and Cr in alluvial soil, as well as to define their origin in the investigated soil profile. Results suggest that Cr is geogenic, while Ni is probably of dominantly anthropogenic origin. Observed concentrations, enrichment factors and Igeo values showed no enrichment for Cr, while for Ni, they showed minor to very severe enrichment, i.e., that in some soil horizons, moderate to strong pollution exists. Evaluation of wind directions and location of possible contamination sources that prevail in the study area suggest that Ni can come by aerodeposition from different sources. Results showed that mineral composition can have important influence on retention of analyzed PTEs. Soil horizons, which have very high concentrations of Ni, in general have higher proportion of clay minerals, especially chlorites, as well as Fe oxyhydroxides which can act as an adsorption phase for the investigated PTEs. Results suggest that more detailed research about the investigated PTEs presents a necessity if measures for soil and groundwater protection want to be effectively implemented.

• Keywords (english): enrichment factor; geoaccumulation index; potentially toxic elements; mineralogical composition; Fluvisols
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review - international
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Environments
• Numbering: vol. 9, no. 12, 154
• e-ISSN: 2076-3298
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/environments9120154
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:169:920353
• Publication: 2022-12-09
• Document URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3298/9/12/154
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2024-02-01 09:08:14