Elements’ Content in Stream Sediment and Wildfire Ash of Suburban Areas in West Attica (Greece)

Maria Doufexi,Dimitrios E Alexakis,Dimitra E Gamvroula

doi:10.3390/w14030310

Abstract

The composition of sediments and other materials occurring in streams, geochemical processes within the drainage basin, and various land uses are among the main factors influencing stream water composition. Stream sediment and wildfire ash samples were gathered from the area studied. The applied methodology consists of aqua regia and Diethylene-Triamine-Penta-Acetic acid (DTPA) chemical extraction; Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), pH, and soil organic matter (OM) determination; a Geographic Information System (GIS) database; factor analysis; and determination of the contamination factor (CF) for the assessment of contamination degree. This study aimed to evaluate the elements’ content in stream sediments of Kineta and Nea Peramos areas (West Attica, Greece) and investigate any relationship between elements (aqua regia and DTPA extracted) in stream sediment and ash in wildfire and flood-impacted areas. The stream sediments’ properties, the bioavailable forms of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), and the total content of other potentially toxic elements in wildfire ash samples, are discussed. This research estimated moderate contamination for FeDTPA, MnDTPA and ZnDTPA in stream sediments of the study area. Contamination for CuDTPA and moderate contamination for ZnDTPA in the stream sediments of the Nea Peramos area was recorded. Factor analysis results suggested that the contents of FeDTPA, MnDTPA, CuDTPA and ZnDTPA in the study area’s stream sediments may affect the chemistry of stream water.

Highlights

Stream and river sediments are an active part of the drainage basin, reflecting the geological and anthropogenic contamination sources [1,2,3,4]
The median content values amount to 65.78% sand, 21.70% silt, and 11.38% clay in Kineta area stream sediments, and differ in percentage terms from the values of Nea Peramos area, which correspond to 13.63% clay, 21.43% silt and 64.94% sand
A Geographic Information System (GIS) elaboration showed that the contamination in Kineta streams is due to both wildfire and geogenic sources such as organic matter (OM) and Fe-Mn oxides for MnDTPA and FeDTPA, whereas CuDTPA and ZnDTPA contamination in Kineta streams is mainly attributed to wildfire

Summary

Introduction

Stream and river sediments are an active part of the drainage basin, reflecting the geological and anthropogenic contamination sources [1,2,3,4]. Trace elements may be added to an aquatic ecosystem either by natural (e.g., weathering of rocks and sediments) [5] or anthropogenic sources (wastewater, fossil fuel combustion, atmospheric pollutant deposition) [6,7]. Compilation of Sediment and Soil Standards Criteria & Guidelines. Available online: https://www.scribd.com/document/371350 899/Compilation-of-Soil-and-Sediment-Standards-Criteria-and-Guidelines-February-1995 (accessed on 21 May 2021). Short and medium term effects of fire and firefighting chemicals on soil micronutrient availability. Gómez-Rey, M.X.; González-Prieto, S.J. Short and medium term effects of a wildfire and two emergency stabilization treatments on the availability of macronutrients and trace elements in topsoil. Major and trace elements in soils and ashes of eucalypt and pine forest plantations in Portugal following a wildfire.

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