Extreme air pollution with contaminants originating from the mining-metallurgical processes

Abstract

Levels of SO₂ and metals/metalloids in the air near a copper smelter in Bor (Serbia) from 2009 to 2015 were presented in this study. Annual levels of SO₂ were constantly above the proposed limit value (LV), at almost all the measuring sites. SO₂ concentrations on an annual level measured in different zones in Bor were several times higher compared to the LV in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015. Enormously high daily SO₂ concentrations measured at the suburban zone (3734μgm^-3) was 187 times higher than the LV given by the World Health Organization. Annual arsenic concentrations exceeded the LV at all the measuring sites during the study period. Extremely high annual As level in 2012 was 21 times higher than the LV proposed by the European Union. The annual lead and cadmium concentrations frequently exceeded the LV. The vicinity of the measuring sites to the copper smelter and the location of the sites in regard to the prevailing wind directions contribute to higher content of air pollutants. The data presented in this study revealed that extremely high concentrations of air polluting substances could rank the town of Bor as one of the most polluted regions in Serbia and beyond.

Keywords: Air pollution; Arsenic; Cadmium; Lead; SO(2).