ASSESSMENT OF BOTTOM SEDIMENT POLLUTION IN SMALL RIVERS, VLADIMIR REGION

Abstract

The results of assessing pollution of bottom sediments in four small rivers of the Vladimir region with heavy metals (HM) and phosphates are presented. According to HM concentration coefficients characterizing the concentration (anomaly) of elements in bottom sediments in respect to their background content in the region, the zones of technogenic multi-element geochemical anomalies in the channels of all studied watercourses and their structure were identified. It has been established that Fe, Pb, Co, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Mn are the priority metals of technogenic geochemical anomalies in bottom sediments. The highest pollution of bottom sediments with these metals is typical for the zones influenced by the runoff from the territories of collective orchards, livestock complexes, large industrial cities and rural settlements. According to the total pollution indicator (Zc), which reflects the additive excess of the background content of a group of heavy metals that are part of technogenic geochemical anomalies, the studied watercourses are located in the following order: Sodyshka Kamenka Rpen Ilevna, and according to the phosphate content: Sodyshka Rpen Kamenka Ilevna. Correlations between the components of bottom sediments have been studied. The average load of heavy metals and phosphates on watercourses was assessed.