
TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2011//
TI  - The Red Mud Accident in Ajka (Hungary): Characterization and Potential Health Effects of Fugitive Dust
JO  - Environmental science and technology
A1  - Gelencsér, András
A1  - Kováts, Nóra
A1  - Turóczi, Beatrix
A1  - Rostási, Ágnes
A1  - Hoffer, András
A1  - Imre, Kornélia
A1  - Nyirő-Kósa, Ilona
A1  - Csákberényi-Malasics, Dorottya
A1  - Tóth, Ádám
A1  - Czitrovszky, Aladár
A1  - Nagy, Attila
A1  - Nagy, Szabolcs
A1  - Ács, András
A1  - Kovács, Anikó
A1  - Ferincz, Árpád
A1  - Hartyáni, Zsuzsanna
A1  - Pósfai, Mihály
SP  - 1608
EP  - 1615
VL  - 45
IS  - 4
N2  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0013-936X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es104005r
ID  - ref1
ER  -