High Pollution with Heavy Metals NATURA 2000 Protected Area in Bacau County, Eastern Romania

Abstract

<jats:p> Chemical pollution in rivers ecosystems is leading towards an increase in the concentrations of heavy metals in fish body, which might have a negative impact on humans. The fish were collected from a protected Natura 2000 area in the Moldavia region, eastern Romania named �Buhusi-Bacau-Beresti� Storage basin. The aim of this study was to measure the heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment and fish meat (muscles and gills), in order to assess the human health risk due to consumption. Industrial effluents discharged into the environment pose a serious threat for the agricultural products and living organisms. In view of this, level of some heavy metals, such as: Cd, Zn, Pb and Cu present in water, sediment and fish tissue samples of fish populations from the area studied were determined using wet digestion-based atomic adsorption method. This study revealed that the maximum Cd concentration (0.911 mg/Kg) was found in fish gills of specie European Perch � Perca fluviatilis and the minimum (0.0197 mg/Kg) was found in Zander - Sander lucioperca fish muscle sample. Zn levels in fish gills of the studied samples were ranged from 108.6698 mg/Kg to 195.4167 mg/Kg. Maximum Pb concentration in gills (1.924 mg/Kg) was found in fish sample of Zarte � Vimba Vimba, while the minimum concentration (0.45 mg/Kg) was found in European Perch � Perca fluviatilis. The heavy metal found in the samples analyzed in the largest quantity is Cu, in the gills of Northernpike - Esox Lucius fish.The concentration determined in samples exceeded the World Health Organisation maximum allowances. In order to assess the risk to which humans are exposed by eating infected meat with heavy metals, the target hazard quotient (THQ) values were estimated. </jats:p>

Effectiveness and Characterization of Novel Mineral Clay in Cd2+ Adsorption Process: Linear and Non-Linear Isotherm Regression Analysis

“…The maximum concentration for water samples approved by the World Health Organization was exceeded in all studied areas with the measured cadmium concentration, 0.0521 mg/L, exceeding 10.42 times the permitted maximum value. In the case of fish samples, the Cd concentration in gills was 0.911 mg/kg and in the muscle reached 0.522 mg/kg, however, the maximum accepted concentration in the EU is 0.05 mg/kg [19].…”

Sustainable Alternative Routes versus Linear Economy and Resources Degradation in Eastern Romania

“…As an example, wastewater discharged via Jijia catchment (Romania) and at Cahul (Republic of Moldova) increases micropollutant levels of the Prut River in the downstream sector [29]. River ecosystems are exposed to chemical pollution, which raises further concerns about food contamination [30]. In Eastern Romania, water pollution concerns are also highlighted in the case of lakes from Iasi and Botosani counties [31], or from the Siret river near Pascani [32].…”

Environmental Pollution in Geopark Management: A Systematic Review of the Literary Evidence

“…Environmental pollution is typical of not only industrial and densely populated territories [1][2][3], but also tourism-important landscapes [4][5][6] and protected areas [7,8]. A novel category of public establishments, which share touristic and conservation features, has appeared recently, namely, geoparks [9][10][11][12][13].…”