Abstract
The Kushk Pb–Zn mine is located in Central Iran and it has been in operation for the last 75 years. To investigate the role of wind dispersion of heavy metal pollutants from the mine area, dust samples were collected during 1 year and topsoil samples were collected around the mine. Results showed that the topsoil is polluted with Pb and Zn to about 1500 m away from the mine. It was also found that there was not a significant difference between the metal concentrations in topsoil and dust samples. The Pb and Zn concentrations in the dust samples exceeded 200 mg kg−1 and their lateral dispersion via wind was estimated to be about 4 km away from the mine. It has been shown that a combination of mining activities and mechanical dispersion via water and wind have caused lateral movement of heavy metals in this area.
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Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge analytical support from the Geological Survey of Iran and special thanks to the Medical Geology section. We are thankful to the anonymous reviewers for their helpful and constructive comments and also we are grateful to the editors.
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Mokhtari, A.R., Feiznia, S., Jafari, M. et al. Investigating the Role of Wind in the Dispersion of Heavy Metals Around Mines in Arid Regions (a Case Study from Kushk Pb–Zn Mine, Bafgh, Iran). Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 101, 124–130 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2319-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-018-2319-3