Impact of dust filter installation in ironworks and construction on brownfield area on the toxic metal concentration in street and house dust (Celje, Slovenia)

Ambio. 2012 May;41(3):292-301. doi: 10.1007/s13280-011-0188-7. Epub 2011 Oct 4.

Abstract

This article presents the impact of the ecological investment in ironworks (dust filter installation) and construction works at a highly contaminated brownfield site on the chemical composition of household dust (HD) and street sediment (SS) in Celje, Slovenia. The evaluation is based on two sampling campaigns: the first was undertaken 1 month before the ecological investment became operational and the second 3 years later. The results show that dust filter installations reduced the content of Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, W and Zn on average by 58% in HD and by 51% in SS. No reduction was observed at sampling points in the upwind direction from the ironworks. By contrast, the impact of the construction works on the highly contaminated brownfield site was detected by a significant increase (on average by 37%) of elements connected to the brownfield contamination in SS. Such increase was not detected in HD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dust / analysis*
  • Environmental Pollutants / chemistry*
  • Environmental Pollution / prevention & control
  • Filtration / instrumentation*
  • Housing
  • Metallurgy*
  • Metals / chemistry*
  • Slovenia

Substances

  • Dust
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Metals