Assessment of the metal pollution in surface sediments of coastal Tasaul Lake (Romania)
Open Access
- 5 November 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Vol. 192 (12), 1-16
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-08698-0
Abstract
Forty-three surface sediment samples were collected in September 2019 from Tasaul Lake (Black Sea coast, Romania) to examine the metal distribution patterns, assess the level of metal contamination, and identify the pollutant sources. The determined mean metal concentrations were as follows: Al 49,772 mg/kg, Zn 84.40 mg/kg, Cr 83.70 mg/kg, V 76.45 mg/kg, Ni 42.53 mg/kg, Cu 34.27 mg/kg, Pb 26.30 mg/kg, As 12.49 mg/kg, and Hg 0.06 mg/kg. The metals in the surface sediments of Tasaul Lake displayed moderate spatial variation, with higher metal concentrations mainly occurring in the south and southeast (As, Pb, and Hg), southwest (Cu and Zn), and west of the lake (Cr, Ni, and V). Heavy metal contamination in sediments is assessed using pollution indices such as enrichment factor, contamination factor, and pollution load index. The highest CFs and EFs were determined for As (moderate to high pollution), followed by Pb (low to moderate pollution). The Cu, Zn, and Hg pollution indices showed values corresponding to low pollution levels, while Ni, Cr, and V presented the lowest indices, suggesting unpolluted sediments. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify the origin of the analyzed heavy metals. Cr was predominantly sourced from lithogenic components, Ni and V originated from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and As, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Hg showed mainly anthropogenic sources such as agricultural runoff, domestic and industrial wastewater discharges, and quarrying activities.Keywords
Funding Information
- Ministerul Educatiei si Cercetarii Stiintifice (Fluvimar no. 8PFE/16.10.2018, PN 19 20 04 02 Geological, geochemical and sedimentological research to assess the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the water quality, benthic fauna and sediment distribution in coastal lakes, in order to sustainably manage their natural resources)
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Heavy Metal Pollution of Lakes along the Mid-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River in China: Intensity, Sources and Spatial PatternsInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013
- An assessment of toxicity in profundal lake sediment due to deposition of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants from the atmosphereEnvironment International, 2007
- Trace metals in sediments of two estuarine lagoons from Puerto RicoEnvironmental Pollution, 2006
- Environmental impact assessment in Bangladesh: A critical reviewEnvironmental Impact Assessment Review, 2002
- Evolution of sediment composition of the coastal Lake San Puoto (Latium, Italy) in the last two centuriesJournal of Limnology, 2002
- Lead isotope ratios of airborne particulate matter as tracers of long‐range transport of air pollutants around JapanJournal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 1994
- An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control.a sedimentological approachWater Research, 1980
- An Inexpensive Titration Method for the Determination of Organic Carbon in Recent SedimentsJournal of Sedimentary Research, 1974
- Hierarchical Grouping to Optimize an Objective FunctionJournal of the American Statistical Association, 1963
- HIERARCHICAL GROUPING TO OPTIMIZE AN OBJECTIVE FUNCTIONJournal of the American Statistical Association, 1962