Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania
It is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indi...
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| author | Valentina Andreea Calmuc Madalina Calmuc Maxim Arseni Catalina Maria Topa Mihaela Timofti Adrian Burada Catalina Iticescu Lucian P. Georgescu |
| author_facet | Valentina Andreea Calmuc Madalina Calmuc Maxim Arseni Catalina Maria Topa Mihaela Timofti Adrian Burada Catalina Iticescu Lucian P. Georgescu |
| author_sort | Valentina Andreea Calmuc |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indices. The present research aims to assess heavy metal pollution in the Lower Danube surface sediments collected along the Danube course (between 180 and 60 km) up to the point where the Danube River flows into the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—UNESCO, protected area). In addition, this monitored area is one of the largest European hydrographic basins. Five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) were analyzed in two different seasons, i.e., the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP– MS) technique. Our assessment of heavy metal pollution revealed two correlated aspects: 1. a determination of the potential risks of heavy metals in sediments by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and 2. an evaluation of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments, using three specific pollution indices, namely, the Geo–Accumulation Index (<i>Igeo</i>), the Contamination Factor (<i>CF</i>), and the Pollution Load Index (<i>PLI</i>). The results of this pioneering research activity in the region highlighted the presence of moderate metal (Ni and Cd) pollution and a low potential ecological risk for the aquatic environment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:16Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:57:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-fca9b73968664b89a61516a4d9f9f79b2023-11-22T02:16:12ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412021-06-011313180110.3390/w13131801Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, RomaniaValentina Andreea Calmuc0Madalina Calmuc1Maxim Arseni2Catalina Maria Topa3Mihaela Timofti4Adrian Burada5Catalina Iticescu6Lucian P. Georgescu7European Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaDanube Delta National Institute for Research and Development, 820112 Tulcea, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaEuropean Center of Excellence for the Environment, Faculty of Sciences and Environment, University of Galati, 800001 Galati, RomaniaIt is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indices. The present research aims to assess heavy metal pollution in the Lower Danube surface sediments collected along the Danube course (between 180 and 60 km) up to the point where the Danube River flows into the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—UNESCO, protected area). In addition, this monitored area is one of the largest European hydrographic basins. Five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) were analyzed in two different seasons, i.e., the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP– MS) technique. Our assessment of heavy metal pollution revealed two correlated aspects: 1. a determination of the potential risks of heavy metals in sediments by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and 2. an evaluation of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments, using three specific pollution indices, namely, the Geo–Accumulation Index (<i>Igeo</i>), the Contamination Factor (<i>CF</i>), and the Pollution Load Index (<i>PLI</i>). The results of this pioneering research activity in the region highlighted the presence of moderate metal (Ni and Cd) pollution and a low potential ecological risk for the aquatic environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/13/1801lower Danube Riversediment pollution indicesheavy metalspotential ecological risk |
| spellingShingle | Valentina Andreea Calmuc Madalina Calmuc Maxim Arseni Catalina Maria Topa Mihaela Timofti Adrian Burada Catalina Iticescu Lucian P. Georgescu Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania Water lower Danube River sediment pollution indices heavy metals potential ecological risk |
| title | Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania |
| title_full | Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania |
| title_short | Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania |
| title_sort | assessment of heavy metal pollution levels in sediments and of ecological risk by quality indices applying a case study the lower danube river romania |
| topic | lower Danube River sediment pollution indices heavy metals potential ecological risk |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/13/13/1801 |
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