Abstract
The pollution of surface water bodies with biogenic compounds and heavy metals is a serious global concern for environment as well as for human health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the pollution of secondary rivers of Nemunas, flowing in Kaunas city, with respect to concentrations of biogenic nitric and phosphorus compounds as well as heavy metals in water and bottom sediments of the rivers. The samples of water and bottom sediments were taken in the influxes of Sėmena, Girstupis, Marvelė, Vėžpienis and Versvas. It was investigated the concentrations of inorganic nitric compounds (ammonium, nitrites and nitrates), and phosphates as well as heavy metals (Zn and Cu) in water and bottom sediments. Sėmena was found to be the cleanest river, as it’s ecological state varied from very good (with respect to phosphates) till average (with respect to ammonium). Girstupis was highly polluted with phosphates; however, it has shown relatively good ecological state with respect to nitric compounds. High concentration of phosphates was also found in Versvas, however, contrary to Girstupis, this river contained exceptionally high concentration of reduced nitric compounds (ammonium). Vėžpienis and Marvelė were the most polluted rivers, most of the nitric and phosphorus compounds exceeded the limit values set in the wastewater management regulations. These rivers were attributed to bad or very bad ecological state with respect to ammonium and good or average ecological state with respect to nitrates and/or phosphates. The concentrations of Zn was relatively low in investigated Kaunas rivers, however, the concentration of Cu was found to be almost 3-times higher than the limit value in Sėmena, Girstupis and Versvas.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.74.2.20615
Highlights
Urban river pollution is typically understood as a problem of the modern age
In the latter case the of the high ecological status class, Vėžpienis, Veršconcentration of nitrates was close to the limit val- vas and Marvelė to the good ecological status class, ue, set in the wastewater management regulations and Girstupis to the moderate ecological status class
Small secondary rivers of Nemunas in Kaunas city were differently polluted with phosphates and biogenic nitric compounds
Summary
Urban river pollution is typically understood as a problem of the modern age. Scientists investigate two main aspects of river pollution: how by-products of industrial and agricultural run-off contaminate waterways, prompting legislative responses (Oosthoek, 2002; Massard-Guilbaud, 2004); and how domestic wastewater disposal creates hygiene concerns and difficulties with providing clean drinking water (Barles and Lestel, 2007; Closmann, 2007).Pollutant discharge causes widespread organic and toxic pollution, as well as excess of biogenic nitric and phosphorus compounds, leading to eutrophication and severe ecological destruction (Miao et al, 2012). Urban river pollution is typically understood as a problem of the modern age. Biogeochemical cycles of phosphorus and nitrogen, which are important biogenic elements that determine the productivity and structural as well as functional organization of ecosystems, are currently undergoing significant anthropogenic transformations. One of the significant types of anthropogenic interference in the circulation of biogenic elements is the use of mineral fertilizers, in particular the ones containing nitrogen and phosphorus (Копла-Дикс and Старвинская, 1993). Another source of anthropogenic N and P compounds (and phosphates) is a discharge of partly treated wastewater (Chesterikoff et al, 1992; Sitonytė and Kerienė, 2010; Vrzel et al, 2016). Eutrophication of water bodies is becoming one of the most urgent problems of surface water nowadays (Wang et al, 2012)
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