Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Geochronological investigation of the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments (Serbia): sedimentology and inorganic composition

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Environmental Geochemistry and Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

The objective of this study is geochronological investigation of sedimentological and inorganic composition, in the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments in order to obtain reliable information about former pollution. Eleven samples were taken from the 135-cm-deep sediment core drilled at the Orlova location. Since the core represents sediments deposited during 1972–2016, the sedimentation rate of ~ 3 cm year−1 was estimated. Grain size, mineralogical and geochemical composition was determined. Sediments are sandy silts and clayey silts, and only the deepest and shallowest layers contain > 30% of sand-size fraction. The highest concentrations of minor elements are found in the oldest sediment (1972–1977) as a consequence of the high flux of the material from variable sources. During the sedimentation period (1975–1990), the concentrations of analyzed elements are generally decreasing until the beginning of 1990s. After this period, there are two distinct decreases and two distinct increases in concentrations of elements. The fluctuations in minor element concentrations are a consequence of both natural and anthropogenic sources. Granitic rocks situated south are source of minerals that carry minor elements. Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation Index, Contamination Factor and Pollution Load Index indicate that concentrations of certain minor elements at specific depositional periods have anthropogenic source.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

Explore related subjects

Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.

References

  • Babić Mladenović, M., Kolarov, V., & Damjanović, V. (2013). Sediment regime of the Danube River in Serbia. International Journal of Sediment Research,28(4), 470–485.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barbieri, M. (2016). The importance of Enrichment factor (EF) and Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) to evaluate the soil contamination. Geology and Geophysics,5(1), 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Birch, F. G., & Olmos, A. M. (2008). Sediment-bound heavy metals as indicators of human influence and biological risk in coastal water bodies. Journal of Marine Science,65(8), 1407–1413.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Çevik, F., Lugal Göksu, M. Z., Bar, O. B., Derici, Findik, & O., (2009). An assessment of metal pollution in surface sediments of Seyhan dam by using enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index and statistical analyses. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment,152, 309–317.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chetelat, B., Liu, C., Wang, Q., & Zhang, G. (2013). Assessing the influence of lithology on weathering indices of Changjiang river sediments. Chemical Geology,359, 108–115.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dane, J. H., & Topp, G. C. (2002) Methods of soil analysis, part 4, physical methods. Book Series No. 5. Madison: Soils Science Society of America.

  • Ergin, M., Saydam, C., Basturk, O., Erdem, E., & Yoruk, R. (1991). Trace metal concentrations in surface sediments from the two coastal inlets (Golden Horn Estuary and Izmit Bay) of the North-eastern Sea of Marmara. Chemical Geology,91(3), 269–285.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Filgueiras, A. V., Lavilla, I., & Bendicho, C. (2004). Evaluation of distribution, mobility and binding behaviour of heavy metals in surficial sediments of Louro River (Galicia, Spain) using chemometric analysis: a case study. Science of the Total Environment,330, 115–129.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hakanson, L. (1980). An ecological risk index for aquatic pollution control: A sedimentological approach. Water Research,14(8), 975–1001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heim, S., & Schwarzbauer, J. (2013). Pollution history revealed by sedimentary records: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters,11(3), 255–270.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapwortha, D. J., Knights, K. V., Keyc, R. M., Johnson, C. C., Emmanuel Ayoade, E., Adekanmi, M. A., et al. (2012). Geochemical mapping using stream sediments in west-central Nigeria: Implications for environmental studies and mineral exploration in West Africa. Applied Geochemistry,27(6), 1035–1052.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H., Yang, J., Ye, B., & Jiang, D. (2018). Pollution characteristics and ecological risk assessment of 11 unheeded metals in sediments of the Chinese Xiangjiang River. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0230-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Literathy, P., & Laszlo, F. (1995). Harmonization of micropollutant monitoring in large international river: Danube. Water Science and Technology,32(5–6), 125–137.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Looi, L. J., Aris, A. H., Yusoff, F. M., Isa, N. M., & Haris, H. (2018). Application of enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, and ecological risk index in assessing the elemental pollution status of surface sediments. Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-018-0149-1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milenković, N., Damjanović, M., & Ristić, M. (2005). Study of heavy metal pollution in sediments from the Iron gate (Danube River), Serbia and Montenegro. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies,14(6), 781–787.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, G. (1979). Trace metals in the sediment of the rhinechanges seity. Umsch Wiss Tech,79(24), 778–783.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oaie, G., Secrieru, D., Szobot Ka, S., Fulga, C., & Stănică, A. (2005). Danube River: sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of the bottom sediments. Geo-Eco-Marina,11, 77–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pajević, S., Borišev, M., Rončević, S., Vukov, D., & Igić, R. (2008). Heavy metal accumulation of Danube river aquatic plants—indication of chemical contamination. Central European Journal of Biology,3(3), 285–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popović, A., Djordjević, D., Relić, D., Vukmirović, Z., Mihajlidi-Zelić, A., & Polić, P. (2009). Speciation of heavy metals in geological matter of the Serbian National parks, protected areas and cities within the Danube River Basin after the war conflict in 1999. In T. A. Kassim & D. Barcelo (Eds.), Environmental consequences of war and aftermath, the handbook of environmental chemistry (pp. 283–321). Berlin: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • RHMZ (Republic Hydrometeorological Service of Serbia). (2018). https://www.hidmet.gov.rs/index_eng.php (in Serbian). Accessed 21 Nov 2018.

  • Rietveld, H. M. (1969). A profile refinement method for nuclear and magnetic structures. Journal of Applied Crystallography,2, 65–71.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez-Carvajal, J. (1993). Recent advances in magnetic structure determination by neutron powder diffraction. Physica B: Condensed Matter,192(1–2), 55–69.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salewicz, K. (1991). Management of large international rivers—practical experience from a research perspective. In Hydrology for the water management of large river basins (Proceedings of the Vienna symposium, August 1991). IAHS Publ. no. 201.

  • Shao, J., Yang, S., & Li, C. (2012). Chemical indices (CIA and WIP) as proxies for integrated chemical weathering in China: Inferences from analyses of fluvial sediments. Sedimentary Geology,265–266, 110–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shepard, F. P. (1954). Nomenclature based on sand-silt-clay ratios. Journal of Sedimentary Petrology,24(3), 151–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Štrbac, S., Kašanin-Grubin, M., & Vasić, N. (2017). Importance of background values in assessing the impact of heavy metals in river ecosystems: Case study of Tisza River, Serbia. Environmental Geochemistry and Health,40(4), 1–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Štrbac, S., Šajnović, A., Kašanin-Grubin, M., Vasić, N., Dojčinović, B., Simonović, P., et al. (2014). Metals in sediment and Phragmites australis (common reed) from Tisza River, Serbia. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research,12(1), 105–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Teodoru, C., & Wehrli, B. (2005). Retention of sediments and nutrients in the Iron Gate I Reservoir on the Danube River. Biogeochemistry,76(3), 539–565.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tomilson, D. C., Wilson, J. G., Harris, C. R., & Jeffrey, D. W. (1980). Problems in assessment of trace metals in the estuaries and the formation of pollution index. Helgoland Marine Research,33(1), 566–575.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varol, M., & Şen, B. (2012). Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface water and sediments of the upper Tigris River, Turkey. Catena,92, 1–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vasić, N., & Kašanin-Grubin, M. (2015). Importance of background samples for understanding of the geochemical status of recent river sediments—example of Sava, Trgoviški Timok and right tributaries of Djerdap lake. In Proceedings of EnviroChem 2015—7th Symposium chemistry and enivironmental protection, Palić, Serbia (pp. 71–72).

  • Vasiljević, M., & Tomašević, Z. (1985). Appearance and analysis of some heavy metals in waters and sludge of Danube between Slankamen and Tekija. In 25 IAD Working Session, Bratislava, CSR.

  • Vuković, D., Vuković, Z., & Stanković, S. (2014). The impact of the Danube Iron Gate Dam on heavy metal storage and sediment flux within the reservoir. Catena,113, 18–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woitke, P., Wellmitz, J., Helm, D., Kube, P., Lepom, P., & Litheraty, P. (2003). Analyses and assessment of heavy metal pollution in suspended solids and sediments of the river Danube. Chemosphere,51, 633–642.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaqin, J. I., Yinchang, F., Jianhi, W. U., Tan, Z. H. U., Zhipeng, B., & Chiqing, D. (2008). Using geoaccumulation index to study source profiles of soil dust in China. Journal of Environmental Sciences,20(5), 571–578.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research is part of the bilateral project 2015–2017 between Ministry of Science Republic of Serbia and DAAD Germany “Geochronological studies on sediment cores from Djerdap Lake—Reconstruction of the pollution history”. This research was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia, Grants 176006, 176019 and III43009.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Milica Kašanin-Grubin, Gordana Gajica, Snežana Štrbac & Aleksandra Šajnović

  2. Energy and Mineral Resources Group (EMR), Institute for Geology and Geochemistry of Petroleum and Coal, RWTH Aachen University, 52058, Aachen, Germany

    Lukas Hagemann & Jan Schwarzbauer

  3. Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12-16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Branimir Jovančićević

  4. Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, Đušina 7, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

    Nebojša Vasić

  5. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221, Belgrade, Serbia

    Svetlana Djogo Mračević

Authors
  1. Milica Kašanin-Grubin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lukas Hagemann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gordana Gajica
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Snežana Štrbac
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Branimir Jovančićević
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nebojša Vasić
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Aleksandra Šajnović
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Svetlana Djogo Mračević
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Jan Schwarzbauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Snežana Štrbac.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kašanin-Grubin, M., Hagemann, L., Gajica, G. et al. Geochronological investigation of the Danube Djerdap Lake sediments (Serbia): sedimentology and inorganic composition. Environ Geochem Health 42, 693–707 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00403-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-019-00403-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation