Geochemical Fractionation and Risk Assessment of Potentially Toxic Elements in Sediments from Kupa River, Croatia
Authors
Sakan, Sanja
Frančišković-Bilinski, Stanislav

Đorđević, Dragana

Popović, Aleksandar R.

Škrivanj, Sandra

Bilinski, Halka
Article (Published version)
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Show full item recordAbstract
This study investigated the quality of Kupa River sediment using sequential extraction,
ecological risk, and contamination indexes (Risk assessment code, Index of geoaccumulation,
Enrichment factor, Ecological risk factor, Ecological risk index), determination of magnetic
susceptibility of sediments, and statistical methods. The BCR sequential extraction technique
was used for evaluating various element-binding forms. Most of the elements were considered to
be immobile due to the high availability in the residual fraction. Lead was present mainly in the
reducible fraction, while more easily mobile and bioavailable forms were predominant for cadmium
and barium. Sediment samples from the river catchment exhibited low ecological risk. The most
toxic element, Cd, is the main contributor to the total potentially ecological risk. Increased values
of contamination factors have been observed for Zn, Cr, and Ba in some localities. Results of the
comparison of element contents in sedim...ents in a 15-year period (2018 vs. 2003) indicated that the
situation with toxic element content in sediments along Kupa River improved formost of its course.
Unfortunately, on the lower course of the river, the situation has worsened. Using the example of
Kupa River sediments, it was shown that the magnetic susceptibility method is excellent indetecting
increased values of Cr.
Keywords:
potentially toxic elements / Kupa River / Croatia / sediment / chemical fractionsSource:
Water, 2020, 12, 7, 2024-Publisher:
- Switzerland : MDPI
Projects:
- Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Republic of Serbia, Grant no. 451-03-68/2020-14/200026 (University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy - IChTM) (RS-200026)
- Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia
DOI: 10.3390/w12072024
ISSN: 2073-4441