Multi-receptor models for source identification of potentially toxic elements near antimony mines and assessment of their health risks

Soil in the area of the former antimony mine near the village of Lisa (Ivanjica municipality) was analysed in this study. The contents of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), as well as their relation to the natural background and the prescribed limit values, indicate that As exceeded the limit values in 63% of the samples, while in 37% of the samples it exceeded the remediation values. Using multivariate methods, including Network analysis, compositional data analysis, and positive matrix factorisation, three main sources of PTEs were identified. Arsenic was identified as the dominant pollutant, primarily associated with anthropogenic sources, but also partly with pedological factors. The health risk assessment showed that As is the main contributor to the overall risk, particularly for children, for whom the average health index (HI) is 2.89, almost three times higher than the permissible value. Regarding carcinogenic risk, As was also identified as a key factor, with an average value of 6.10E-05, indicating a notable risk. The highest contribution to HI comes from the anthropogenic factor, both for non-carcinogenic risk in children and for carcinogenic risk, while no significant risk was observed for the geogenic factor.