Distribution and fractionation of heavy metals in the Tisa (Tisza) River sediments |
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Authors: | Sanja Sakan Ivan Gržetić Dragana Đorđević |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Chemistry, IChTM, Njegoševa 12, POB 815, 11001-YU Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro;(2) Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12–16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro |
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Abstract: | Introduction In this work, sediments of the River Tisa (Tisza) are studied to assess their environmental pollution levels for some major
heavy metals, as well as to predict the investigated elements’ mobility on the basis of their association type with the substrate.
The Tisa River catchments area is a subbasin of the River Danube. Part of this river, 166 km long, belongs to the Serbian
province of Vojvodina, before it flows into the Danube. It has been chosen for our investigation, because it has been exposed
to intense pollution in the last decades.
Materials and Methods The river sediment samples were collected at 32 locations. The proportions of sand, silt and clay fractions were determined.
The sequential extraction procedure following a modified Tessier method was applied for speciation of the metal forms in the
collected samples. The metal concentrations of Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe and Mn in extracts were determined by atomic absorption
spectroscopy.
Results and Discussion Granulometric analysis showed that some 50% of the Tisa River sediments were silt and clay, while the rest was sand with quartz,
as the main constituent. The average metal content of the surface river sediment samples for every fraction of sequential
extraction was presented and discussed in relation to pH, Eh and metal fractionation. The average metal content from the Tisa
River sediments, obtained as an average of the metal’s concentration released in all five sequential extraction fractions
was compared with: average metal contents of the Tisa River sediments in Hungary, metal content in soils formed on the Tisa
River alluvium of Vojvodina, average metal content in soils of Vojvodina, and average metal content in soils of Hungary. An
assessment of metal pollution levels in Tisa River sediments was made by comparing mean values for obtained results for the
Tisa River sediments with the freshwater sediment’s Quality Guidelines as published by US EPA, Environment Canada and soil
standards for Serbia.
Conclusion According to US EPA and Canadian Quality Guidelines for freshwater sediments, the concentration of heavy metals in Tisa sediments
were: (a) much higher than defined concentrations below which harmful effects on river biota are unlikely to be observed,
(b) below defined concentrations above which harmful effects on river biota are likely to be observed. The concentration levels
of Pb, Ni, Cu and Cr in Tisa River sediments are safe when compared with Serbian MAQ (Maximum Allowed Quantity) standards
for soils, but they are unsafe in the case of Zn and Cd.
Recommendations and Outlook The quality of sediments in the Tisa River was on the border line between potentially polluted and polluted. This line could
very easily be exceeded since the quality of sediments in the Tisa River in Hungary was already worse than in Serbia. These
results indicated the need for further monitoring of heavy metals in that locality. |
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Keywords: | Chemical fractionation distribution heavy metals pollution sediments Tisa (Tisza) River |
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