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Distribution of selected elements in soils of urban parks in Prague and Brno
Šimeček, Martin ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Tejnecký, Václav (referee)
Prague and Brno belong to one of the most contaminated cities of Czech Republic. The main objective of this study was to compare PGE contents and concentrations of risk elements (Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, As, Sb, Hg) in the soils of both cities's municipal parks. Soil samples were taken from depths of 0-10 cm, 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm. Besides soil samples, the sand samples from children sandpits were taken from depth 0-30 cm. In 52 samples of soil and sand Pd, Pt and Rh contents were determinated by ICP- MS after Ni-S fire assay procedure. Soil samples were additionally analysed on Pb isotopic composition. Higher PGE contents were determined in Prague; the highest contents were measured at location of Ortenovo náměstí (50,5 μg·kg-1 Pt, 33,9 μg·kg-1 Pd a 11,3 μg·kg-1 Rh). Elevated PGE concentrations were found in the upper layers of most soils in both cities. Elevated contents of risk elements were determined at locations with high traffic density. Most of samples showed that contents of risk elements decrease with depth. The highest concentrations reached Zn (394 mg·kg-1 ), Pb (290 mg·kg-1 ) and Cu (181 mg·kg-1 ). In Prague, the isotopic ratios 206 Pb/207 Pb vary from 1,136 to 1,181; in Brno from 1,161 to 1,192. Measured isotopic ratios suggest contamination both from gasoline and ore combustion. Key words:...
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Trace elements and Pb isotopes in selected bone samples
Bartoš, Jan ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Strnad, Ladislav (referee)
The aim of this work is briefly summarize the current theoretical knowledge about trace elements and their inputs into calcified body tissues in a form of search. Here are described mechanisms of their inputs and depositing into human body and principles, which allows maintenance of their optimal levels. In this paper are also described the properties of bones and teeth and simply explained concepts such as an essential and toxic trace elements. The next part of this work is mainly about trace elements, which have the biggest potential to be used in an archeological research, particularly in paleodietary research. These elements are mainly Sr, Ba and Zn. Lead and its isotopes are discussed more here in relation to the effect of Pb to Romans in the past and to the identifying sources of pollution by this element. In the same chapter are also described principles of post-mortem alteration processes, to which are bones after burial exposed and which they have to face during analyzing and interpretations of data related to the amount of trace elements in origin bones.
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The Use of Asbestos, Remediation of Contaminated Areas and the Risk of Impact on the Human Organism
Štípek, Radek ; Bendl, Jiří (advisor) ; Mihaljevič, Martin (referee)
The work deals with the uses of asbestos minerals, methods of safe disposal of asbestos and the disease burden caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, of which the most dangerous is crocidolite. Attention is paid to the physical-chemical and structural properties, classification and explanation of the processes of their formation, indicating areas of the Czech Republic and abroad. Describes the history of asbestos use since ancient times to the 20th century, including mass balance asbestos consumed in the technosphere that over the past hundred years, amounts to almost 194 million tons. It then focuses on building fire protection, insulation and other products with different content of asbestos in the world which total over 3000 and registered on the characteristics of asbestos substitute materials, such as ceramic, glass and carbon fibers, aramids, wollastonite, vermiculite and perlite. Describes methods for determination of asbestos fibers in the air, water and soil as a complete course of rehabilitation of contaminated objects. Asbestos fibers pose a risk to human health in the form of asbestosis, first diagnosed in 1900, pleural hyalinosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma of the pleura, where the first evidence of association with exposure to asbestos dates back to 1955 and on the basis of which...
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Tree rings dendrochemistry near Cu smelter
Jarošíková, Alice ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Hojdová, Marie (referee)
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,...
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Leaching characterization of platinum group elements from automotive catalytic converters
Štědrý, Robin ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Navrátil, Tomáš (referee)
The distribution of platinum group elements and increase of thein emissions in the environment are mostly related to the use of automobile catalyst. The antropogenic emissions of these noble metals accumulate aloung the roads. The methods such as ICP-OES and XRD were used for determinativ of phase and elemental composition of these samples. The matrix of the gasoline catalyst is composed of Al, Ce oxides with Pt-Pd-Rh coatings. Matrix of diesel catalyst is composed of cordierite with Pt coatings. ICP-MS was used for determination Pt, Pd and Rh. Before the analysis was performed such as pre-concetration fire assay fusion into a NiS button. The leaching characterization of Pt, Pd and Rh was examined during kinetic batch experiments in sodium chloride (1g/l, NaCl), 20 mM Na2P4O7 (NaPyr), fulvic acid (FK, DOC 50 mg/L) and 20 mM citric acid . The results show, that the dissolution of Pt and Pd is the fastest in citric acid and sodium pyrophosphate. Sodium chloride in the concentrations employed, which could be derived from melt waters formed during winter road treatment, does not have a substantiv impal on the speciation and mobilization of Pt and Pd. Organic acid does not have significantly impct on the release of Pt and Pd to the solution. The calculated normalized bulk released NRi values in the range 0,16...
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Freshwater wetlands as a biogeochemical archive: Temporal changes in climate and environmental records
Zemanová, Leona ; Novák, Martin (advisor) ; Mihaljevič, Martin (referee) ; Hojdová, Marie (referee)
Worldwide, peatlands cover an area of 4.106 km2 . Plant primary production dominated over organic matter decomposition and enabled organic matter to accumulate during the last 11 000 years. Peatlands represent a reservoir of atmospheric carbon and they are a useful scientific tool for reconstructions of historical atmospheric pollution. The first part of the thesis focuses on peatlands as a dynamic carbon reservoir under predicted climate change that would influence carbon cycling and emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Three methodological approaches were used - a mesocosm laboratory incubation, a transplant experiment and in situ gas flux measurements. The laboratory incubation studied the response of peat samples from temperate (Velké Dářko, Czech Republic) and boreal (Stor Åmyran, Sweden) zone to a temperature increase, water table decrease and their combination. Today, the warmer site exhibits ~14 times higher CH4 production potential than the colder site (28 mg m-2 hr-1 at VD, and 2 mg m-2 hr-1 at SA). Both sites respond differently to temperature increases. Changes in methane production were up to 9 fold due to different temperatures. A gradual decrease of water table level from 2 to 14 cm below the peat surface had a much stronger effect, VD exhibited a decrease in methane...
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Transformation of trace element speciation in disturbed soil profile
Kochergina, Yulia ; Mihaljevič, Martin (advisor) ; Vaněk, Aleš (referee)
Distributions of toxic trace elements were studied in soils before and after disturbation of their profiles.Two areas with different vegetation cover were selected: beech (Fagus sylvatica) and spruce (Picea abies) forests at the Načetín site in the Ore Mts. In the past, this area belonged to places with extreme levels of acidic atmospheric deposition. The studied areas are not placed too far from each other and have thus approximately the same climatic conditions, geological background and pollution input. On the other hand, physicochemical properties of soils (pH, CEC, BS, Ctot, Stot) and concentrations of major and trace elements are different. At selected sites in spruce and beech stand, two soil probes to a depth of 40-50 cm were dug in 2010 and samples of individual soil horizont were collected for chemical analyses (approximately 0.5 kg). Four samples from L, H, A and B horizons were taken in the spruce forest area and five samples from L, H, A, B and C horizons were taken in the beech forest. In 2011, the sites were re-sampled and samples were taken from horizons that were disturbed in 2010, paralleled by samples of undisturbed soil horizons from the same probe sites. Trace element concentrations were determined by ICP-MS, the speciation of individual elements in the soils was determined by...
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