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Mining Pollution in Mitrovica

Behrami, S., Bajraktari, F., & Zogaj, N. Kosovo Environment Protection Agency, (2008). Ground water pollution in Mitrovica and surroundings. Retrieved from http://balwois.com/balwois/administration/full_paper/ffp-1084.pdf
The authors argue that the drinking water quality in Mitrovica region is not satisfying. One of the contributors toward this is the pollution from the industry as well as the waste water. Indeed, this pollution includes the river of Ibri and Sitnica. This report presents the state of surface waters in the two main rivers of Mitrovica, and as such helps one determine the level of drinkable water in Mitrovica region.
This Article/Research Paper relates to Mitrovica and its water polution problems. Mitrovica is based in the North of Kosovo and owns the main part of natural resources. According to the article, Mitrovica is not only the most polluted city in Kosovo, but in Europe. The article discusses the water polution caused by exploiting those natural resources, which basically polluts the 3 main rivers that cross the city and from which the city gets the main water supply. It contains a lot of tables to make the contamination of the drinking water clear. The article is originally written in English.

Borgna, L., Di Lella, L. A., Nannonni, F., Pisani, A., Pizzatti, E., Protano, G., Riccobono, F., & Rossi, S. (2009). The high contents of lead in soils of northern kosovo. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 101(2), 137-146. Retrieved from http://www.sciencedirect.com.ezproxy.rit.edu/science/article/pii/S0375674208000617

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Rexhepi, F., Rugova, A., Arbneshi, T. (2010). **Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution in Ibër River* **{}Sediment{}**. Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia: BALWOIS. Retrieved in September 16, 2011, from* http://balwois.com/balwois/administration/full_paper/ffp-1681.pdf _ _
This research paper written by Fatos Rexhepi, Ardian Rugova, and Tahir Arbneshi in English was intended to determine the quantity of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in the sediment of the Ibër River as well as identification of the potential pollutants of this water. The authors conducted this study by the side of Department of Technology and the Department of Chemistry in University of Prishtina in 25, 29 May 2010.
This article written by Rexhepi, Rugova, and Arbneshi, contains a research over the heavy metal pollution in the aqua system, specifically in the Iber River. This river is a subject to this kind of pollution being very close to the major mines of lead and zinc in Zvecan and Mitrovica. The result from the research, which included an experiment of the water composition, showed that Iber contains copper, zinc, cadmium and increasing quotes of lead. This research gives data in one of the major environment related issue - that is water pollution. Thus it can be very useful in backing up the arguments over the water pollution in Kosovo.

Meehan, Sh (June 2005), Mailman, N (June 2005). Kosovo: Lead pollution requires immediate evacuation of Roma camps Retrieved from:http://www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=1856||||\

This is an article written in June 2005, that talks about the evacuation of Roman, Ashkali, and Egyptian people that were living in a near region of Mitrovica. It explains how according to the World Health Organization and other UN organizations in Kosovo, more than 600 people were in serious health danger because of the mines in Mitrovica. The article also explains the fact that after the war in Kosovo, nobody really cared about the environment, and that there was lack of leadership to solve environmental issues, and especially this in Mitrovica. Further, the article explains how UNHCR has built these camps as a temporary solution, but the people who lived there stayed longer than 45 days.

According to some studies, the article talks also about the overall population in Mitrovica which has elevated levels of heavy metals, especially lead, but the samples from the three RAE IDP Camps had the most alarming lead levels in the blood. More than four years earlier the 2000 UNMIK report had also noted higher levels among RAE internally displaced persons (IDPs). According to WHO, a blood lead level of 10 micrograms per deciliter or below is acceptable. The measurements from the IDP camps were much higher than in the surrounding population and at levels which exceeded any region WHO had previously studied. Twelve children had exceptionally high blood lead levels, greater than 45 micrograms per deciliter. ?According to the article, WHO has made some experiments and has recommended the evacuation of pregnant women and children, because they were mostly affected by the high risk of getting sick in the area they were living. Although these organizations made an alert to the government and other organizations and public institutions, nobody helped the three populated camps with minority people in Mitrovica. And as one international humanitarian worker put it, "It is not a question of a solution, it is a question of the lack of will to do anything -- nobody seems to want to help the Roma."

Initially, in spring 2005 some organizations and local institutions decided to initiate a Risk Management Plan, and to evacuate the people from there. They started also to distribute hygiene packs and wood stoves. And it is confirmed that since than the sanitation in and around two of the camps has been greatly improved. WHO concluded in October 2004 that the primary source of lead contamination was the existing contaminated soil, which has measured in the camps as much as 359 times beyond safe limits. The illegal smelting activities are continuing but have been greatly reduced and many of the larger smelting sites have been eradicated. This is being closely monitored by the municipalities and international organizations. The article says that the situation is further complicated also because of the fact that the RAE people do not want to go back to live were they lived before (South Mitrovica), but the want that the local institutions to help them for a better life. Also one thing to mention is the fact that mos of the people living in these camps have not yet recognized Kosovo's independence, and this plays a major role.

However, refugees international recommended some points to be considered: - by June 30, 2005 all pregnant women and children from birth to six years old be evacuated to rented flats in North Mitrovica or temporary shelters at the South Mitrovica site. Regular testing of all IDPs in the RAE camps continue and any person testing above 45 micrograms per deciliter be given immediate medical attention and relocated, - the SRSG instruct the International Municipal Representatives of the three municipalities involved to begin immediate negotiations with the municipal governments to provide a list of suitable land sites for the evacuation. From the lists provided, the SRSG choose the best possible site by June 30, 2005, - the World Bank and/or the European Agency for Reconstruction commit to a comprehensive environmental clean up of the North Mitrovica lead sites as recommended in the UNMIK November 2000 repor
 

Nannoni , F., Protano, G., & Riccobono, F. (2011). Uptake and bioaccumulation of heavy elements by two earthworm species from a smelter contaminated area in northern Kosovo. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43(12), 2359--2367. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.rit.edu/10.1016/j.soilbio.2011.08.002

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Prathumratana, L., Kim, R., & Woong Kim, K. (2008, November). Heavy metal contamination of the mining and smelting district in mitrovica, kosovo. Proceedings of the international symposia on geoscience resources and environments of asian terranes, Bangkok, Thailand. Retreived from http://www.geo.sc.chula.ac.th/Geology/Thai/News/Technique/GREAT_2008/PDF/138.pdf

Mitrovica had the largest metallurgic and mining complex (Trepca) in Europe which commenced activities in 1993 with the extraction of lead, cadmium and zinc. Many industrial plants existed in the complex such as lead smelter, fertilizer production plant, refinery, battery factory, zinc electrolysis facility and a sulfuric acid plant. The significant amount of heavy metal pollutants were released to the surrounding area including populated residential areas and therefore associated with human health risk. The minority communities in three refugee camps in Mitrovica, Kosovo have been significantly exposed to environmental lead originated from large-scale mining and smelting industries since 1999. Even the smelter was closed down in 2000 by United Nations but the impacts of the abandoned mining dumps, tailing dams are still left behind. The initial risk assessment by WHO in 2004 indicated children’s blood lead levels in these communities are dangerously high. Soil contamination due to historical and ongoing pollution from these complexes is also considered as a key source of exposure. A systematic investigation for the soil contamination by lead and other heavy metals was performed in year 2006. Most soil samples contain significantly high lead amount exceeding the US Environmental Protection Agency standard of 400 mg kg-1. The highest amount of lead, 151,000 mg kg-1 with the average of 134,000 mg kg-1 was found in the sample close to the former smelter. Soil lead existed as relatively high amount of bioavailability fraction which may be confirmed with the recent study that no lead bearing phases could be observed directly by XRD. The resemble trend of lead isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb) in tailings (1.175+0.003), soils from former smelter (1.175+0.014) and from the relocated area (1.173+0.011) revealed that tailings may be one source of lead. However, sustainable monitoring of environmental condition and continuous risk assessment are required to prevent lead and other heavy metal exposure in this area.

Rusila, A. (2009, May1). UN death camps, EU money, local negligence.
Retreived from http://arirusila.cafebabel.com/en/cbtag/15865

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