THE IMPACT OF EXTRACTION AND PROCESSING OF LEAD ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE POPULATION OF THE UPPER MEŽA VALLEY

Še nikoli niso imeli ljudje toliko znanja o naši preteklosti kot mi, v nobeni dobi niso bili tako temeljito informirani o dogodkih sedanjosti kot mi, kljub temu pa občutek negotovosti o naši prihodnosti še nikoli ni bil tako velik kot danes. To misel, ki se nadaljuje z ugotovitvijo, da je kemija bolj kot vse druge industrijske dejavnosti izboljšala življenjske pogoje človeštva, zato pa moramo vzeti v zakup določene nezaželene spremljajoče učinke, je izrekel prof. dr. Quadbeck-Seeger na znanstvenem posvetu ob 125-letnici kemijskega koncerna BASF, vendar jo mirno lahko prenesemo tudi na dejavnost pridobivanja in predelave svinčeve rude v zgornji Mežiški dolini. Svinec je težka kovina, ki je danes v povezavi z okoljem pojem za strup. Od takrat, ko se je človek naučil kreativno izkoriščati zaklade Zemlje, svinec zvesto spremlja napredek civilizacije. Žal pa pri pridobivanju, predelavi in uporabi vseh materialnih dobrin poleg koristnih nastajajo tudi nekoristne, ki v kakršni koli obliki vplivajo na okolje, in so posledica lastnosti surovin in tehnologije pridobivanja, predelave ali uporabe. Obremenjevanje okolja je svetovni problem. Skladno z razvojem spoznanj, znanja in zavesti skušajo tudi v zgornji Mežiški dolini z aktivno politiko, omejiti vpliv pridobivanja in predelave svinca na okolje. Zgornja Mežiška dolina spada med najbolj degradirana območja v Sloveniji. Vendar se je z umestitvijo v najbolj degradirana območja in sprejetjem Odloka o območjih največje obremenjenosti okolja in programa ukrepov za izboljšanje kakovosti okolja v zgornji Mežiški dolini v letu 2007 pričela intenzivneje izvajati sanacija okolja, ki daje spodbudne rezultate. Izboljšala se je kakovost zraka, površinskih voda, problematična pa ostaja kakovost prsti. Izboljšanje stanja okolja v veliki meri čutijo tudi prebivalci, kar se kaže v znižanju vsebnosti svinca v krvi in lepšem bivanjskem okolju.People have never had so much knowledge about our past as we do, they have not been as thoroughly informed about the present events as we are, and however, the sense of uncertainty of our future, has never been greater than it is today. This idea, which continues with the finding that chemistry has improved the living conditions of mankind more than other industrial activities, and that we need to take certain undesirable effects into consideration, said prof. dr. Quadbeck-Seeger at the scientific conference on 125th anniversary of the chemical concern BASF, but we can relate that idea to the activity of extraction and processing of lead ore in the upper Meža Valley. Lead is a heavy metal and nowadays, with connection to the environment, it is a concept of poison. From the time that man has learned to creatively exploit the treasures of the Earth, lead follows the progress of civilization. Unfortunately with extraction, processing and use of material goods there emerge some advantages and disadvantages, which have some form of impact on the environment and are the result of properties of materials and technology extraction, processing or use. Burdening the environment is a global problem. With the development of knowledge, skills and consciousness the upper Meža Valley is trying to limit the impact of the extraction and processing of lead in the environment with an active policy. Upper Mežica Valley is among the most degraded areas in Slovenia. However, by placing it in the most degraded areas and the adoption of the Ordinance on the areas of greatest environmental burden and the program of measures to improve environmental quality in the upper Meža Valley in 2007, it began intensively to implement environmental remediation, which gives encouraging results. There has been an improvement of air quality and surface water, but the problem remains with the quality of the soil. Improving the environment is largely felt by residents. That is reflected in the reduction of lead level in blood and more pleasant living environment