Pollution characteristics and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in river sediments based on calculation of pollution indices

Abstract

The presented study was carried out in order to evaluate risk assessment of selected heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co and V) in river sediments in Serbia. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a new approach in ecological geochemistry assessment of heavy metal pollution using different pollution indices for estimation the anthropogenic input of elements, quantifying the degree of metal enriched in sediments, assessment the pollution status of the area and estimation of the potential acute toxicity of studied contaminants. Concentrations of heavy metals were determined at 35 river sediments. The metal concentrations (in mg kg-1) ranged: Mn, 648-3688; Cd, 1.28-10.5; Co, 8.22-36.2; Cr, 59.8-230; Ni, 33.2-274; Pb, 57.8-318; V, 60.4-149; Zn, 66.6-1095, and Cu, 11.5-870. Pollution indices were calculated separately for all sampling sites, to evaluate the extent of metal enrichment at each site. Based on calculated indices, the studied river sediments were found to be significantly contaminated by Cd, Cu and Zn. The most contaminated river systems in Serbia are the Ibar, Pek, and West Morava.