Abstract
The temporal dynamics of anthropogenic impacts on the Pchelina Reservoir is assessed based on chemical element analysis of three sediment cores at a depth of about 100–130 cm below the surface water. The 137Cs activity is measured to identify the layers corresponding to the 1986 Chernobyl accident. The obtained dating of sediment cores gives an average sedimentation rate of 0.44 cm/year in the Pchelina Reservoir. The elements’ depth profiles (Ti, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, Sn, Sb, Pb, Co, Cd, Ce, Tl, Bi, Gd, La, Th and Unat) outline the Struma River as the main anthropogenic source for Pchelina Reservoir sediments. The principal component analysis reveals two groups of chemical elements connected with the anthropogenic impacts. The first group of chemical elements (Mn, Fe, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, Sn, Sb and Co) has increasing time trends in the Struma sediment core and no trend or decreasing ones at the Pchelina sampling core. The behavior of these elements is determined by the change of the profile of the industry in the Pernik town during the 1990s. The second group of elements (Zn, Pb, Cd, Bi and Unat) has increasing time trends in Struma and Pchelina sediment cores. The increased concentrations of these elements during the whole investigated period have led to moderate enrichments for Pb and Unat, and significant enrichments for Zn and Cd at the Pchelina sampling site. The moderately contaminated, according to the geoaccumulation indexes, Pchelina Reservoir surface sediment samples have low ecotoxicity.
Highlights
Chemical elements are among the most widespread of the various pollutants originating from anthropogenic activities, from mining, metallurgy and smelting waste sites
Chemical elements are found in many forms: as free ions; in the form of various complexes; as precipitated compounds suspended in the aqueous phase; and adsorbed on the surface of other suspended or colloidal particles [9]
This study aims to propose a methodology for assessing the temporal dynamics of anthropogenic impacts on sediments of Pchelina Reservoir
Summary
Chemical elements are among the most widespread of the various pollutants originating from anthropogenic activities, from mining, metallurgy and smelting waste sites. They are one of the most persistent pollutants in the environment, since they do not decompose, nor do they biodegrade into simpler and less harmful substances. The elements enter surface waters from many sources, in the form of atmospheric deposits, or are leached from rocks and soil They are not biodegradable, but bind to proteins, being stored in the bodies of water organisms or excreted in their feces [8], which under certain conditions leads to secondary contamination of the water bodies. Chemical elements are found in many forms: as free ions (the most toxic forms for living organisms); in the form of various complexes; as precipitated compounds suspended in the aqueous phase; and adsorbed on the surface of other suspended or colloidal particles [9]
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