Sources of Magnetic Particles from Air Pollution in Mountainous Area

Abstract

Measurement of magnetic susceptibility of topsoil represents a very useful tool for the detection of atmospherically deposited magnetic particles. The samples of forest soils from the Moravian-Silesian Beskydy Mountains (the Czech Republic) were used for identification of emissions sources of particles with magnetic ordering. Magnetic susceptibility was measured at bulk samples of grain size class under 2 mm. Microanalysis using electron microscope with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer was used for the determination of particles in the magnetic fraction. The samples of dust from the sintering plant of the Iron Works in the town of Třinec were analysed. The values of magnetic susceptibility of forest soils in the Třinec region are increased. In the relatively near vicinity of the industrial area, the average value for Javorový Mount was 7.90×10 -6 m 3 /kg, for Ostrý Mount it was 6.69×10 -6 m 3 / kg. It was proved that they were higher than the average values from the Beskydy Mountains (4.64×10 -6 m 3 /kg). The concentrations of lead and magnetic susceptibility in soils showed significant correlation dependence (r s = 0.85). The iron and steel industry represent the primary source of the pollution load in forest soils of the studied area. Statistically, significant dependences between the organic matter content and the lead and zinc concentrations as well as between the magnetic susceptibility values and the iron concentrations in forest soils were found. It was confirmed that the airborne particles are deposited on vegetation and accumulated in the organic horizon of forest soils.