Nkana smelter belonged to the main sources of contamination by trace elements (especially Cu and Co) in the area of African city Kitwe (Copperbelt, Zambia). The main objective of this study was to compare elemental and isotopic composition of Zambian soils and tree rings, and to investigate biogeochemical processes between plants and soils in contaminated and uncontaminated environment. Elemental composition (Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Cd, Hg and Tl) and isotopic composition of Cu (63 Cu/65 Cu) were determined in soils and tree rings of pine trees (Pinus latteri, Pinus kesiya) using ICP-MS , AMA and MC ICP-MS. Our results demonstrated that soils and tree rings were both affected by mining and metallurgical activity. Increasing content of elements with depth is the result of the mobility of the elements in uncontaminated soil profile. Soil from contaminated site had the highest metal contents especially in the upper part of the soil profile as a result of continuous contribution of metallurgical components during long-term smelter operation. Fractionations of Cu isotopes in soils were caused primarily by interactions with plants. Concentration changes that some elements showed in the individual tree rings could be the effect of variable intensity of pollution in the area. In the case of Cu, however,...
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nusl.cz/oai:invenio.nusl.cz:321019 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Jarošíková, Alice |
| Contributors | Mihaljevič, Martin, Hojdová, Marie |
| Source Sets | Czech ETDs |
| Language | Czech |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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