Preliminary Analysis of Levels of Arsenic and Other Metalic Elements in Pm10 Sampled Near Copper Smelter Bor (Serbia)

In this paper the levels of twenty one elements (Ag Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, S, Se, Sr and Zn) in PM10 are presented, as well as SO2 concentration, measured at the sampling site in an urban area of the town of Bor (40,000 inhabitants) in eastern Serbia The sampling site was located in a densely populated city center about 0 65 km away from one of the largest copper mines and copper smelters in Europe For the first time We was collected using the European standard sampler, during a preliminary campaign in duration of 7 days in early spring 2009 PM10 were sampled on PTFE membrane filters and element concentrations were quantified by GF AAS and ICP AES Concentration levels and correlations within trace elements, PM10 and SO2 indicated that industrial activities underpinned with meteorological conditions of low wind speed (calm) are the main factors that influence air pollution in a densely populated area It was evident that both PM10 mass concentration and SO2 concentration once exceeded the daily limit values during a measuring period of seven days Strong relationship was found between PM10 and Mn, Mg, Ca and B daily average concentrations On the other hand, SO2 correlated strongly with As, Pb, Cd, Cu and S daily average concentrations These results confirm the relationship between emissions of SO2 from the Copper Smelter Bor and calm meteorological conditions (wind speed less than 0 5 m/sec) with the concentration levels of carcinogenic substances of arsenic, lead and cadmium in ambient ai