Tracing the Metal Pollution History of the Tisza River Through the Analysis of a Sediment Depth Profile

Abstract

The vertical profiles of 20 major and trace metals were investigated along a 180-cm-long sediment core, which was sampled at Kiss-Janosne-Holt Tisza, an oxbow lake located in the upper part of the Tisza River in Hungary. The vertical profiles showed sharp peaks at different depths, reflecting historical pollution events and unusual changes of river water characteristics. Five different groups of metals, containing metals which were strongly correlated and showing a similar behaviour, could be distinguished by factor analysis. Six areas, with variable degrees and types of contamination, were classified in the sediment core with cluster analysis. The most polluted sections were found in the upper 50-cm part (significantly contaminated by Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg) and the deeper 100-120-cm part (characterised by high concentrations of metals associated with mining activities, such as Fe and Mn, as well as Cu, Zn and Pb). In recent years, important pollution events, such as the one which took place in March of 2000, were the reason for pollution of the upper sediment layers, whereas mining activities during the last century were responsible for the pollution of the deeper core sections.

Assessment of Trace Metal Contamination of Sediments in the Lubumbashi River Basin, Kafubu, Kimilolo and Kinkalabwamba Rivers in Lubumbashi City, Democratic Republic of Congo

“…, respectively) and that of Pb in sediment of Kafubu river at its confluence with Lubumbashi river dw) and at the confluence of Lubumbashi river with Kafubu river (342 mgkg -1 dw), were higher than those respectively reported for the sediments of Winterbeek river [38]. The mean Cu concentrations in sediments of all the studied rivers, channel and springs in Lubumbashi city (except at the confluence of water from both springs with Tshamalale river) were much higher than the concentrations of that metal reported for Winterbeek river sediments [38] respectively much higher than the respective Cr, Co, Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations reported for the most polluted sediments of the Tisza river, Hungary [13]. Combined with the low (acid) pH of the water and the low OM contents of sediments in most of the studied rivers, those sediment metal levels largely exceeding the SQGs' probable effect level values increase the metal risk for aquatic organisms living in those rivers, and for the health of people who depend on those rivers to meet their water supply, irrigation and recreational needs.…”

“…sediments and in the water column, especially invertebrates and fish, but also for humans through human food chain [1,3,8,[13][14][15]. Sediments have been reported to be one of the most important tools to assess the contamination level of aquatic ecosystems [1,3,5,8,[14][15][16][17].…”

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Sediment Quality in the Urban River: A Case Of Ala River in Southwestern – Nigeria

“…On the basis of the mean valve of C f , sediment is enriched for metals in the following order: Pb >Zn > Cd >Cr >Cu>Ni > Fe. [47], suggesting that the anthropogenic sources of these metals are closely related in the sediment from Ala river.…”

Forensic Assessment of Metal Contaminated Rivers in the 21st Century Using Geochemical and Isotopic Tracers

“…During the past few decades significant attention has been paid to the potential to construct a history of anthropogenic contamination by analyzing geochemical tracers within alluvial and lacustrine deposits associated with a river system [71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80]. The developed histories can form a significant component of any environmental/geological forensic analysis in that they: (1) provide an understanding of the changes in the chemical health of the river through time where water quality monitoring records are limited or absent; (2) allow short-term monitoring records to be placed into an historical context of the changes in sediment geochemistry over periods ranging from a few years to millennia, and, perhaps of most importance from a forensic perspective; (3) can identify a contaminant source and its relative importance as a contributor of contaminants to the river when a source is no longer present.…”