Elemental Analysis of Water and Sediments by External Beam PIXE Part 2. Industrial Zone of Ptolemais, Greece

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Abstract
In the industrial zone of Ptolemais, Greece there are two coal-fired power plants, one nitrogen-fertilizer producing plant and a factory making coal-bricks. The industrial and the municipal waste effluents of this area are discharged into the lake Vegoritis via a small stream named Solou. Water and core or grab sediment samples taken from the Solou stream and Vegoritis Lake were analyzed for metallic elements by the proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE) method and the different pollution sources of the area under study, as far as metal pollution is concerned, were tentatively identified. The communities contribute to the pollution with loads of Pb and Ni; Ca, Cr, and Mo are contributed mainly by industries, while Fe, Zn, Mn, Sr, and Br have their origin to both sources. Also the sediment enrichment factors (SEF) are calculated and discussed.