Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simultaneous Use of Trace Metals, 210Pb and 137Cs in Floodplain Sediments of a Lowland River as Indicators of Anthropogenic Impacts

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study focuses on the distribution of selected trace metals, 137Cs and 210Pb, in floodplain deposits of the lowland Warta River (southern Poland) downstream of Częstochowa, a large city with an iron smelter. The depth profiles of trace metal (Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd and Mn), 210Pb and 137Cs contents in floodplain sediments were used to derive deposition rates on the floodplain for the twentieth century. The applicability of particular chronometric tools is considered within the context of their mutual relationships and confirmed by the consistency of the results. Deposition rate estimates for the past 50 years based on the vertical patterns of trace metal concentrations, which were correlated with particular events in the development of the smelter, range from 0.4 cm·year−1 in profiles situated in backswamps far from the channel to over 1.1 cm·year−1 in profiles of the natural levee adjacent to the river. Deposition rates based on 210Pb inventories in the profiles range from 0.08 to 0.66 g·cm−2·year−1, which corresponds to linear sedimentation rates of 0.10 to 0.91 cm·year−1, respectively. Dating of characteristic levels associated with peak fallout of 137Cs gives sediment accretion rates resembling those obtained from trace metals and 210Pb. The period of the highest sediment accumulation rate could be related to the highest loads of effluent from the iron smelter and city of Częstochowa, which were substantially reduced after the construction of effluent treatment plant.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aalto, R., Maurice-Bourgoin, L., Dunne, T., Montgomery, D. R., Nittrouer, C. A., & Guyot, J. L. (2003). Episodic sediment accumulation on Amazonian flood plains influenced by El Nino/Southern Oscillation. Nature, 425, 493–497.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bølviken, B., Bogen, J., Jartun, M., Langedal, M., Ottesen, R. T., & Volden, T. (2004). Overbank sediments: A natural bed blending sampling medium for large-scale geochemical mapping. Chemometrics and Intelligent Laboratory Systems, 74, 183–199.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carter, J., Owens, P. N., Walling, D. E., & Leeks, G. J. L. (2003). Fingerprinting suspended sediment sources in a large urban river system. Science of the Total Environment, 314, 513–534.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chau, N. D., Niewodniczański, J., Dorda, J., Ochoński, A., Chruściel, E., & Tomza, I. (1997). Determination of radium isotopes in mine waters through alpha and beta-activities measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 222(1–2), 69–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ciszewski, D. (2003). Heavy metals in vertical profiles of the middle Odra River overbank sediments: Evidence for pollution changes. Water, Air and Soil Pollution, 143(1–4), 81–98.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ciszewski, D., Czajka, A., & Błażej, S. (2008). Rapid migration of heavy metals and 137Cs in alluvial sediments, Upper Odra River valley, Poland. Environmental Geology, 55, 1577–1586.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Claret, C., Boulton, A. J., Dole-Olivier, M. J., & Marmonier, P. (2001). Functional processes versus state variables: Interstitial organic matter pathways in floodplain habitats. Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 58(8), 1594–1602.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Vos, W., Ebbing, J., Hindel, R., Schalich, J., Swennen, R., & VanKeer, I. (1996). Geochemical mapping based on overbank sediments in the heavily industrialised border area of Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 56(2), 91–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Forusiak, K., Malarski, T., Bala, J., & Mandrysz, J. (2003). Huta Częstochowa 1896–2002 (pp. 1–544). Częstochowa: Jurapress.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greeman, D. J., Rose, A. W., Washington, J. W., Dobos, R. R., & Ciokosz, E. J. (1999). Geochemistry of radium in soils of the Eastern United States. Applied Geochemistry, 14, 365–385.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hamers, T., van den Berg, J. H. J., van Gestel, C. A. M., van Schooten, F. J., & Murk, A. J. (2006). Risk assessment of metals and organic pollutants for herbivorous and carnivorous small mammal food chains in a polluted floodplain (Biesbosch, The Netherlands). Environmental Pollution, 144, 581–595.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • He, Q., & Walling, D. E. (1996). Use of fallout Pb-210 measurements to investigate longer-term rates and patterns of overbank sediment deposition on the floodplains of lowland rivers. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 21, 141–154.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hudson-Edwards, K. A., Macklin, M. G., Curtis, C. D., & Vaughan, D. J. (1998). Chemical remobilization of contaminant metals within floodplain sediments in an incising river system: implications for dating and chemostratigraphy. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms, 23, 671–684.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koide, M., Souter, A., & Golberg, E. D. (1972). Marine geochronology with 210Pb. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 14, 442–446.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korobova, E., Linnik, V., & Chizhikova, N. (2008). The history of the Chernobyl Cs-137 contamination of the flood plain soils and its relation to physical and chemical properties of the soil horizons (a case study). Journal Geochemical Exploration, 96(2–3), 236–255.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lair, G. J., Graf, M., Zehetner, F., & Gerzabek, M. H. (2008). Distribution of cadmium among geochemical fractions in floodplain soils of progressing development. Environmental Pollution, 156(1), 207–214.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lecce, S. A., & Pavlowsky, R. T. (2001). Use of mining-contaminated sediment tracers to investigate the timing and rates of historical flood plain sedimentation. Geomorphology, 38(1–2), 85–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lis, J., & Pasieczna, A. (1996). Geochemical atlas of Poland 1:250, 000. Warszawa: PIG.

    Google Scholar 

  • Livens, F. R., & Baxter, M. S. (1988). Particle size and radionuclide levels in some west Cumbria soils. Science of the Total Environment, 70, 1–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lowrance, R., Todd, R., Fail, J., Hendrickson, O., Leonard, R., & Asmussen, L. (1984). Riparian forests as nutrient filters in agricultural watersheds. BioScience, 34, 374–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macklin, M., Ridgway, J., Passmore, D. G., & Rumsby, B. T. (1994). The use of overbank sediment for geochemical mapping and contamination assessment: Results from selected English and Welsh floodplains. Applied Geochemistry, 9, 689–700.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Matschullat, J., Ellminger, F., Agdemir, N., Cramer, S., Liessmann, W., & Niehoff, N. (1997). Overbank sediment profiles—Evidence of early mining and smelting activities in the Harz mountains, Germany. Applied Geochemistry, 12(1), 105–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Middelkoop, H. (2002). Reconstructing floodplain sedimentation rates from trace metal profiles by inverse modeling. Hydrological Processes, 16, 47–64.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, H. E., Martell, E. A., & Poet, S. E. (1976). Sources of polonium-210 in the atmosphere. Environnmental Science and Technology, 10, 586–591.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholas, A. P., & Walling, D. E. (1997). Investigating spatial patterns of medium-term overbank sedimentation on floodplains: A combined numerical modeling and radiocesium approach. Geomorphology, 19, 133–150.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ottesen, R. T., Bogen, J., Bölviken, B., & Volden, T. (1989). Overbank sediment: A representative sample medium for regional geochemical mapping. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 9, 689–700.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owczarek, P. (2002). The differentation of the conditions of alluvial sedimentation in the Warta gorge through the Cracow Upland, Poland. Quaestiones Geographicae, 22, 59–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paulson, A. J. (1997). The transport and fate of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, pH and SO4 in groundwater plume and in downstream surface waters in the Cour d`Alene mining district, Idaho, USA. Applied Geochemistry, 12, 447–464.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pizzuto, J. E. (1987). Sediment diffusion during overbank flows. Sedimentology, 34, 301–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C., & McHenry, J. R. (1990). Application of radioactive fallout ceasium-137 for measuring soil erosion and sediment accumulation rates and patterns: A review. Journal of Environmental Quality, 19, 215–233.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C., & McCarty, G. W. (2003). 137Cesium and soil carbon in a small agricultural watershed. Soil & Tillage Research, 69, 45–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, K. A., & Paterson, J. E. (1990). Manganese and cobalt. In B. J. Alloway (Ed.), Heavy metals in soils (pp. 7–28). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swennen, R., & Van Der Sluys, J. (1998). Zn, Pb, Cu and As distribution patterns in overbank and medium-order stream sediment samples: Their use in exploration and environmental geochemistry. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 65, 27–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Swennen, R., Van Keer, I., & De Vos, W. (1994). Heavy metal contamination in overbank sediments of the Geul River (east Belgium): Its relation to former Pb–Zn mining activities. Environmental Geology, 24, 12–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, M. P. (1996). The variability of heavy metals in floodplain sediments: A case study from mid-Wales. Catena, 28, 71–87.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Berg, G. A., Loch, J. P. G., & Winkels, H. J. (1998). Effect of fluctuating hydrological conditions on the mobility of heavy metals in soils of freshwater estuary in The Netherlands. Water Air and Soil Pollution, 102, 377–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Venterink, H. O., Vermaat, J. E., Pronk, M., Wiegman, F., van der Lee, G. E. M., van den Hoorn, M. W., et al. (2006). Importance of sediment deposition and denitrification for nutrient retention in floodplain wetlands. Applied Vegetation Science, 9, 163–174.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walling, D. E., & He, Q. (1997). Use of 137Cs fallout in investigations of overbank sediment deposition on river floodplains. Catena, 29, 263–282.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Walling, D. E., & He, Q. (1999). Changing rates of overbank sedimentation on the floodplains of British rivers during the past 100 years. In A. G. Brown & T. A. Quine (Eds.), Fluvial processes and environmental change (pp. 207–222). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walling, D. E., He, Q., & Nicholas, A. P. (1996). Floodplains as suspended sediment sinks. In M. G. Anderson, D. E. Walling & P. D. Bates (Eds.), Floodplain processes (pp. 399–440). Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walling, D. E., Owens, P. N., Carter, J., Leeks, G. J. L., Lewis, S., Meharg, A. A., et al. (2003). Storage of sediment-associated nutrients and contaminants in river channel floodplain systems. Applied Geochemistry, 18, 195–220.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research project was financed by the State Committee for Scientific Research from the budgetary funds in the years 2005–2006 (2 P04G 012 28).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Henryk Niewodniczański Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland

    Edyta Łokas

  2. AGH–University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland

    Przemyslaw Wachniew & Nguyen Dinh Chau

  3. Institute of Nature Conservation, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland

    Dariusz Ciszewski

  4. Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland

    Piotr Owczarek

Authors
  1. Edyta Łokas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Przemyslaw Wachniew
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dariusz Ciszewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Piotr Owczarek
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Nguyen Dinh Chau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edyta Łokas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Łokas, E., Wachniew, P., Ciszewski, D. et al. Simultaneous Use of Trace Metals, 210Pb and 137Cs in Floodplain Sediments of a Lowland River as Indicators of Anthropogenic Impacts. Water Air Soil Pollut 207, 57–71 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0119-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0119-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation