The Red Mud Accident in Ajka (Hungary): Characterization and Potential Health Effects of Fugitive Dust

作者：András Gelencsér, Nóra Kováts, Beatrix Turóczi, Ágnes Rostási, András Hoffer, Kornélia Imre, Ilona Nyirő‐Kósa, Dorottya Csákberényi-Malasics, Ádám György Tóth, A. Czitrovszky, Attila Nagy, Szabolcs Tamás Nagy, András Ács, Anikó Kovács, Árpád Ferincz, Zsuzsanna Hartyáni, Mihály Pósfai · 发表于：Environmental Science & Technology · 年份：2011 · DOI：10.1021/es104005r · 被引用次数：243 · 研究领域：Bauxite Residue and Utilization、Electrokinetic Soil Remediation Techniques、Recycling and utilization of industrial and municipal waste in materials production

As a result of a tragic industrial accident, a highly alkaline red mud sludge inundated settlements and agricultural areas near Ajka, Hungary on October 4, 2010. One of the major concerns about the aftermaths of the accident is the potential health effects of vast amounts of fugitive dust from red mud sediment. Thus, we studied the chemical and physical properties of particles of red mud and its respirable fugitive dust, and performed toxicity measurements. Under unfavorable meteorological conditions dry red mud sediment could emit very high amounts of respirable alkaline particles into the air. The number size distribution of fugitive dust peaks above 1 μm aerodynamic diameter; therefore, its inhalation is unlikely to affect the deep regions of the lungs. No significant mineralogical or elemental fractionation was observed between the sediment and dust, with the major minerals being hematite, cancrinite, calcite, and hydrogarnet. Although the high resuspension potential and alkalinity might pose some problems such as the irritation of the upper respiratory tract and eyes, based on its size distribution and composition red mud dust appears to be less hazardous to human health than urban particulate matter.