Determination of heavy metal background concentration in bottom sediment and risk assessment of sediment pollution by heavy metals in the Hrazdan River (Armenia)

Vahagn Petrosyan,Yekaterina Perikhanyan,Gevorg Pirumyan

doi:10.1007/s13201-019-0996-7

Vahagn Petrosyan, Yekaterina Perikhanyan + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-019-0996-7

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Journal: Applied Water Science	Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Citations: 17	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Yerevan State University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine background concentrations of heavy metals in bottom sediments, as well as to characterize potential danger of heavy metals in bottom sediments of the Hrazdan River. Linear regression method was used to determine background concentrations of metals in bottom sediments. While using this method, the linear regression of determining metal with a comparative element was used: The cobalt was chosen as a relative element, which is conditioned by the absence of significant sources of cobalt in this river. Risk assessment index of Hakanson was calculated for evaluation of bottom sediments contamination by heavy metals. It is obtained that in this part of the Hrazdan River basin potential ecological risk caused from bottom sediments contamination by heavy metals is not high.

Highlights

The objectives of this paper are: The intensity of human activities during the last centuries causes a significant violation of the existing balance of the nature
Adsorption of heavy metals by bottom sediments leads to the so-called hidden pollution, which could turn into a real pollution under external factors (Liang et al 2015; Ali et al 2016)
Background concentrations calculated by the linear regression method can be used as the background concentrations of heavy metals in the bottom sediment of the Hrazdan and Marmarik rivers

Summary

Introduction

The objectives of this paper are: The intensity of human activities during the last centuries causes a significant violation of the existing balance of the nature. The investigation of increasing pollution of the hydrosphere is important. Providing the population with clean water has become an actual issue for the entire planet (Albering et al 2016). Along with the scientific and technological progress, the scale of the impact on the environment is increasing, which leads to undesirable changes of air, water, and soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics, and these can have adverse effects on humans, animals, and plant lives (Tchounwou et al 2012). Studies of bottom sediments have gained an importance. Adsorption of heavy metals by bottom sediments leads to the so-called hidden pollution, which could turn into a real pollution under external factors (Liang et al 2015; Ali et al 2016)

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