Ecological Monitoring of Soil and Groundwater Areas Around the “Stomana Industry” Plant

Abstract

Most heavy metals are characterized by a certain accumulation in soils and plants. Recent studies have shown that heavy metals are already dangerous pollutants of the urban environment. Along with the main pollutants (dust, SO_X, NO_X, CO_X, halogens, etc. [6]), such metals are also continuously discharged into the environment. Heavy metals also tend to accumulate in the hydrosphere, especially in bottom sediments and in the biomass of existing inhabitants. The uncontrolled discharge of sludge from metallurgical and chemical industries also leads to dangerous pollution of the natural environment with heavy metals. In the ferrous metallurgical industry, in addition to the main products (cast iron, steel, ferroalloys), numerous waste products are also produced. They contain to a certain extent all the elements used in this industrial sector.

The purpose of the study is to present the state of the area, in terms of polluting elements, around the largest ferrous metallurgical enterprise in Bulgaria.