Abstract
PurposeThe main objective of the study was the determination of the Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn distribution in Wigry Lake sediments, as well as the contamination and ecotoxicological risk assessment on the basis of a large data set.Materials and methodsSelect metal concentrations were determined via AAS or ICP-MS. Contamination assessment was achieved via the implementation of different geochemical background values, selected pollution indices, and by way of comparison with the limit values of the sediment quality guidelines and supported by cartographic methods.Results and discussionMetal concentrations presented in the paper were associated with a specific type of sediment and sedimentation environment. The highest concentrations of metals were found in the fluvial-lacustrine sediment covering the bottom of the bay of eutrophic character. The lowest amounts were found in the lacustrine chalk and clastic sediment present in the littoral parts of the lake, while profundal sediments were more enriched with metals. Studies revealed that the examined metals have mostly natural, but also anthropogenic origin. The assessment of lake sediments, with the use of geochemical background values and different indices, yielded highly diversified results associated with the variability of background values applied in the study. However, ultimately, the Wigry Lake sediments were found to be only slightly contaminated with Cd, Cr, Cu, and Zn, while Pb concentrations were considered to be more disturbing. The potential ecotoxicological risk was assessed as low.ConclusionsParticular attention in this study was paid to the significance of the geochemical background values adopted for calculations, which, in the case of Wigry Lake, gave very divergent results. A uniquely large data set facilitated the performance of a thorough analysis of metal distributions in recent lacustrine sediments and highlighted the necessity of using integrated approaches in aquatic ecosystem studies.
Highlights
Aquatic sediments are a very important part of water ecosystems
Metal concentrations presented in the paper were associated with a specific type of sediment and sedimentation environment
The assessment of lake sediments, with the use of geochemical background values and different indices, yielded highly diversified results associated with the variability of background values applied in the study
Summary
Aquatic sediments are a very important part of water ecosystems. They play a significant role in the circulation of elements between various components of water and groundResponsible editor: Tomas Matys GrygarJ Soils Sediments (2021) 21:512–529There has been considerable progress worldwide in the field of sediment quality assessment since 2000. Many researchers use the large-scale geochemical background proposed by Taylor and McLennan (1995) as the average concentration of elements in the upper continental crust, by Turekian and Wedephol (1961) as the average concentration in the shale, or by Håkanson (1980) as the global preindustrial sediments In such situations, local conditions are often not considered, which causes large deviations in assessment results (Xu et al 2017). One of the main methods for the determination of the regional/local background values is based on using the raw element data from surface sediment samples, rejecting the values corresponding to contamination and calculating the statistical mean and standard deviation (Chen et al 2001; Xu et al 2017) Another method is to use the concentration of elements in deep, preferably dated, core sediments (CobeloGarcía and Prego 2003; Gałuszka and Migaszewski 2011). This approach is not flawless either, as element concentrations in different components of a particular environment may be naturally subject to change due to biogeochemical processes (Matschullat et al 2000; Reimann and de Caritat 2005)
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