Soil Contamination in Gartlage Area, Germany

Abstract

Gartlage is the second smallest district of Osnabrück Germany. It is in direct vicinity to the city centre. There is a big wire and metal production factory (KME) in the area and the factory have been in operation since 1873.  Main products are rolled copper and copper alloys, copper tubes, copper & brass rods and special products for the steel industry. The main strategy of KME factory for copper production is focusing on recycling of the products. Especially products made by copper are recycled back after main usage at homes, cars, computers and windmills with the help of scarp dealers. Although copper is recyclable and productive material, the wastes produced during the manufacturing process of copper may be harmful for environment and human kind. Smelting and refining operations are two mostly used copper manufacturing processes. Both may lead to different kinds of pollutants such as sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, flotation wastewaters, uncontrolled leachate, slurry sludge and slag. In this study, heavy metal pollution in Gartlage area of Germany was investigated. Several samples were taken from the area around KME factory and heavy metal analyses (copper and lead) were performed on these samples. Moreover, after the analyses, concentrations of copper and lead were compared with values in Federal Soil Protection Act. Thus, heavy metal pollution in the area was detected.

Keywords

• heavy metals,soil,contamination,copper,lead

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