Trace element and radiological characterisation of ash and soil at a legacy site in the former Raša coal-mining area

Bituh, Tomislav; Peco, Josip; Božičević Mihalić, Iva; Gouasmia, Sabrina; Grlić, Marija; Petrinec, Branko (2024) Trace element and radiological characterisation of ash and soil at a legacy site in the former Raša coal-mining area. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology, 75 (4). pp. 245-258. ISSN 1848-6312

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Abstract

Coal mined in the shut-down Raša mine in Istria, Croatia had a high organic sulphur content. What has remained of its local combustion is a coal and ash waste (legacy site) whose trace element and radionuclide composition in soil has enduring consequences for the environment. The aim of this study was to follow up on previous research and investigate the potential impact on surrounding soil and local residents by characterising the site’s ash and soil samples collected in two field campaigns. Trace elements were analysed using particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. Radionuclides, namely 232Th, 238U, 226Ra, 210Pb, and 40K, were analysed with high resolution gamma-ray spectrometry. PIXE analysis confirms previous findings, whereas radionuclide analysis shows higher activity concentrations of 238U, 226Ra, and 210Pb in ash samples than the worldwide average, and the absorbed dose rates for local residents are up to four times higher than background levels. Our findings confirm the need of investigating coal industry legacy sites and the importance of remediation of such sites.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ash, hazardous trace elements, NORM, PIXE, radionuclides, soil
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics NATURAL SCIENCES > Geology BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE > Public Health and Health Care
Divisions:	Division of Experimental Physics
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Ekološki, biološki i dozimetrijski aspekti ionizirajućeg zračenja: izloženost i zaštita Ana Marija Marjanović Čermak UNSPECIFIED EK Istraživačko-edukacijski centar za zdravstvenu i medicinsku ekologiju i zaštitu od zračenja – Rekonstrukcija i dogradnja Instituta za medicinska istraživanja i medicinu rada u Zagrebu- Radovan Fuchs; Ana Lucić Vrdoljak KK.01.1.1.02.0007 EK
Depositing User:	Ivana Vuglec
Date Deposited:	28 Nov 2025 09:36
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/10098
DOI:	10.2478/aiht-2024-75-3897

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