Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) as possible Indicator of Wartime Metal and Metalloid Contamination in Eastern Croatia (ICP-MS Method)

Biomonitoring of the local population and environmental monitoring in eastern Croatia has revealed abnormalities in metal and metalloid distribution that could be related to war activities during the 1990s. The goal of this study was to determine whether there are differences in the concentrations of metals and metalloids by comparing locations of high and low intensity combat activity ; we also evaluated a possible connection between metal contamination in soil and in humans. We sampled 14 locations and measured the concentrations of 20 metals and metalloids (Al, As, B, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Li, Mg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Si, Sr, U, V and Zn) which are used in ammunition production. The results of principal components analysis (PCA) showed two main clusters: the locations Dopsin and Dalj (both characterized by high- intensity combat activity), where the concentrations of most elements (except Hg) were increased. This finding is consistent with our previous research which has shown abnormalities in metal and metalloid concentrations in soil, plant and population samples at the same locations. Although the concentrations of metals and metalloids in cabbage samples collected in eastern Croatia did not exceed the maximum allowed values, the results of our study confirmed the village of Dalj, a civilian settlement, and its surroundings (adjacent to the bridge over the Danube destroyed by the NATO) as an environmental hotspot with higher concentrations of war metals and metalloids. Our findings indicate that there is a possible common source and mechanism of transferring metals form the environment to the population.