Assessment of Surface Water Pollution With Heavy Metals

Abstract

Water pollution represents the direct or indirect change of its normal composition as a result of human activity in such extent that is affecting all other possibilities to use the water in its natural state. This study was carried out to investigate the seasonal variability and distribution of heavy metals in the waters of Somesul Mic (Romania), Bic (Republic of Moldova), and Prut (Romanian-Moldovan natural border) rivers. Water samples were collected from nine sampling sites in Autumn 2016, Spring and Summer 2017. Dissolved metals concentrations were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and flame atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The metal index (MI) was calculated to assess the contaminations of the Somesul Mic, Bic, and Prut rivers. MI values revealed that Somesul Mic and Prut rivers are pure to moderately affected by metal pollution, while Bic river is slightly to strongly affected by metal pollution.