The anthropogenic pollutants in urban ponds based on the example of Słupsk

Abstract

Abstract. In areas of urban infrastructure, ponds play an important role. They are places of rest and recreation, and they facilitate contact between city dwellers and the aquatic environment. They are also a place for living waterflow and ichthyofauna. Urban ponds are susceptible to anthropogenic influences, and their self-cleaning capacity is limited due to their small size. The city of Słupsk is located in northern Poland. Coal combustion in domestic boilers and transport cause dust emissions to be released into the atmosphere. The concentration of particulate matter and heavy metals in PM10 in Słupsk is much higher than in neighbouring village Gać. This affects metals deposition from the atmosphere. Two urban ponds in Słupsk were the object of the research. Sampling station No. 1 was located in the southern part of the Raj Pond situated deep into the forest area, a considerable distance from urban buildings. Sampling station No. 2 was located at the Juniorów Pond located near the city centre. Water samples were taken from a depth of 10 cm. To investigate the deposition from the atmosphere, atmospheric precipitation was collected in a collector located in the city of Słupsk. The concentrations of Li, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Se, As, V, Sr, Cd and Pb were analyzed in the obtained water samples. Measurements were made using an ICP-MS mass spectrometer. From the obtained results, it was observed that the concentrations of Li, Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Se, Sr and Cd were higher at station No. 2 located near the city centre.

Phytoneuston and Chemical Composition of Surface Microlayer of Urban Water Bodies

“…It may be assumed in these cases that accumulation in the SML for V was determined by the load of atmospheric depositions, while for the other above-mentioned elements the share of the pollutants was more uniform between the sources from the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. The level of contaminants in urban water bodies such as ponds or lakes results from the sum of local factors as well as wet and dry deposition [17]. In this study, high accumulation of Ni and Cd was found in the SML layer in Człuchowskie Lake and Al in the ponds of the city of Słupsk.…”

“…Statistically significant correlations were also observed with elements found in trace concentrations. Al and F − are elements constituting urban pollutants, supplied via the atmosphere together with PM 10 and P 2.5 dusts [17]. This would explain the high content of Al and F − in the SML ponds of the city of Słupsk.…”

“…Moreover, neustonic organisms, usually derived from the SUB [2], have the ability to bioaccumulate metals [6] and thus can affect the enrichment and chemical composition of the SML. In view of the above, it may be assumed that Sr, Zn, Ca, Cl − , Na and K mainly originated from the pool accumulated earlier in the SUB layer, particularly since the concentrations of these elements in the atmosphere are much lower when compared with those recorded in the SUB layer [13,17]. Similarly, parameters describing aquatic microorganisms, i.e., phytoplankton biomass, chlorophyll a and counts of heterotrophic bacteria, were correlated between the SML and the SUB.…”

“…The SML is an unstable environment, on the one hand rich in nutrients and on the other hand dangerous for the neuston, as it may contain various substances, e.g., heavy metals, at toxic concentrations [7,17]. The presence of noxious substances, not exceeding toxic concentrations, may lead to the increased activity of neuston microorganisms [11,12], thus these microorganisms colonize the unstable SML environment even though it is harmful for them over a longer time perspective.…”

“…The coordinates of these sampling stations are: 1P, 54 The water bodies are used for recreation and leisure activities. Ponds located in Słupsk are inhabited by such fish species as Rutilus rutilus (roach), Carassius carassius (crucian), Abramis brama (bream), Tinca tinca (tench) and Esox lucius (pike) [17]. Urban ponds in Słupsk are also habitats for waterfowl, e.g., swans and ducks [10].…”