Abstract
The work presents the results of studying the content of potentially toxic elements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Ni and Cd) in bottom sediments sampled at monitoring stations in the natural-anthropogenic systems of the Lower Don adjacent to the impact zone of the Novocherkassk Power Plant. The relationship between the content of metals in bottom sediments and their sorption properties is largely determined by the conditions of formation and the type of bottom sediments. Evaluation of the potentially toxic element content in sediments indicated that in particle size fractions (≤ 0.001 mm) could accumulate more than 15 times the levels of Cr and Zn and more than 6 times the levels of Cu, Cd and Ni in comparison to the particle size fractions that are 1.0 mm. Local zones of polyelemental pollution of bottom sediments with respect to Cu, Zn, Pb Cd and Cr were determined. These zones are confined to the geochemical sorption barriers of small watercourses of the power plant.
Highlights
Industrial clusters greatly influence the features of sediment genesis with form natural-anthropogenic systems [1,2,3,4]
This work aims to study the features of the elemental composition of bottom sediments of the Lower Don river system adjacent to Novocherkassk Power Plant
The content of potentially toxic elements in the samples of bottom sediments showed that the highest contents of Cu, Zn and Pb are confined to the bottom sediments of the stations of the Tuzlov and Kadamovka small rivers where gleyic and hydrosulfuric geochemical barriers are formed (Table 1)
Summary
Industrial clusters greatly influence the features of sediment genesis with form natural-anthropogenic systems [1,2,3,4]. They determine the further mechanisms of formation of the elemental composition in the components of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The water mass links pollution sources and various components that make up the river ecosystem, which is represented by aquatic organisms and bottom sediments. Numerous works have shown that for rivers experiencing an active anthropogenic impact, the factors limiting the presence of elements in a free-ionic form (the most dangerous form for aquatic organisms) is sulfate-sulfide equilibrium in bottom sediments [6,7].
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