Impact of the Pb and Zn ore mining industry on the pollution of the Biała Przemsza River, Poland.

Magdalena Jabłońska-Czapla,Katarzyna Nocoń,Sebastian Szopa,Aleksandra Łyko

doi:10.1007/s10661-016-5233-3

Magdalena Jabłońska-Czapla, Katarzyna Nocoń + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5233-3

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Abstract

The development of mining and metallurgic industries of Pb and Zn ores in the Biała Przemsza catchment area has had a strong influence on the condition of the surface water and bottom sediments. In the following study, total contents of metals and metalloids were researched in the water and bottom sediment samples from the Biała Przemsza River. The samples were collected monthly in 2014 at five sampling points along the river. The research helped to determine correlations between the parameters and components of the water environment (metals/metalloids, cations/anions, pH, Eh, conductivity, carbon (TOC, IC, TC), and suspension). The contents of metals and metalloids were determined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), whereas anions and cations were investigated with ion chromatography (IC). The simplified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) three-step sequential chemical extraction was performed on Biała Przemsza River bottom sediments collected in April, July, and October. At its lower course, the Biała Przemsza River water did not meet the Polish surface water quality standards. The Biała Przemsza River water is mainly loaded with metals. Toxic concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Zn were observed at sampling points in Okradzionów and Sławków. The toxic Tl concentration was exceeded (2–6 μg/L) at three sampling points. The Biała Przemsza River bottom sediments were composed mostly of medium and fine sand. The BCR extraction of the bottom sediments demonstrated that Cd and Zn were bound to cations/anions and carbonates loosely adsorbed on the bottom sediments in spring and summer. Such a situation was observed at all the sampling points, except for BP3 in Okradzionów. The organic carbon concentration increased along the river course.

Highlights

Heavy metal concentrations in river systems are often considered as indicators of anthropogenic influence
Heavy metal contents in water and bottom sediments are determined by the changing physicochemical parameters, such as pH
The change in the redox potential caused the change in the metal-binding forms in the solid phase and the pH drop, which increased metal mobility (Forstner 1986)

Summary

Introduction

Heavy metal concentrations in river systems are often considered as indicators of anthropogenic influence. As heavy metals pose a risk to the natural environment, their concentrations need to be tracked and assessed. Gundersen and Steinnes 2001), redox conditions (Jabłońska-Czapla et al 2014), suspension content (Nocoń et al 2013), or temperature (Kostecki 2004). They are often influenced by other factors such as the changing year (Samarina 2003) or monsoon seasons (Sundaray et al 2012)

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