Abstract
The Sava River is the biggest tributary to the Danube River. As a part of the 6th FW EU project, Sava River Basin: Sustainable Use, Management and Protection of Resources (SARIB), ecological status of sediments was investigated. In order to assess the geographical distribution in sediment contamination of the Sava River, inorganic and persistent organic pollutants were analyzed in sediments at 20 selected sampling sites along the Sava River from its spring to its outfall into the Danube River. For comparability of data to other river basins the sediment fraction below 63 μm was studied. Due to complexity of the work performed, the results are published separately (“Part I: Selected elements” and “Part II: Persistent organic pollutants”). In the present study, the extent of pollution was estimated by determination of the total element concentrations and by the identification of the most hazardous highly mobile element fractions and anthropogenic inputs of elements to sediments. To assess the mobile metal fraction extraction in 0.11 mol L − 1, acetic acid was performed (first step of the Community Bureau of Reference extraction procedure), while anthropogenic inputs of elements were estimated on the basis of normalization to aluminum (Al) concentration. According to the Water Framework Directive, the following elements were investigated in sediments: cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and mercury (Hg). Furthermore, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and phosphorous (P) were determined. The analyses of sediments demonstrated slightly elevated values for Hg, Cr, and Ni in industrially exposed sites (concentrations up to 0.6, 380, and 210 mg kg − 1, respectively). However, the latter two elements exist in sparingly soluble forms and therefore do not represent an environmental burden. P concentrations were found in elevated concentrations at agricultural areas and big cities (up to 1,000 mg kg − 1).
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Borovec, Z. (2000). Elements in size-fractionated bottom sediments of the Elbe River in its Czech part. Aquatic Sciences, 62, 232–251. doi:10.1007/PL00001334.
Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines. (1999). Canadian sediment quality guidelines for the protection of aquatic life. Environment Canada Ottawa, Ontario, Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment.
Casado-Martínez, M. C., Buceta, J. L., Belzunce, M. J., & DelValls, T. A. (2006). Using sediment quality guidelines for dredged material management in commercial ports from Spain. Environment International, 32, 388–396. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2005.09.003.
Covelli, S., Faganeli, J., Horvat, M., & Brambati, A. (2001). Mercury contamination of coastal sediments as the result of long-term cinnabar mining activity (Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic sea). Applied Geochemistry, 16, 541–558. doi:10.1016/S0883-2927(00)00042-1.
de Miguel, E., Charlesworth, S., Ordóñez, A., & Seijas, E. (2005). Geochemical fingerprints and controls in the sediments of an urban river: River Manzanares, Madrid (Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 340, 137–148. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.07.031.
Din, Z. B. (1992). Use of aluminium to normalize heavy-metal data for estuarine and costal sediments of Straits of Melaka. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 24, 484–491. doi:10.1016/0025-326X(92)90472-I.
Giusti, I., & Taylor, A. (2007). Natural and antrophogenic contamination of the Fratta–Gorzone river (Veneto, Italy). Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 134, 211–231. doi:10.1007/s10661-007-9611-8.
Grosbois, C., Meybeck, M., Horowitz, A., & Ficht, A. (2006). The spatial and temporal trends of Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn in Seine River floodplain deposits (1994–2000). Science of the Total Environment, 356, 22–37. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.01.049.
Guevara-Riba, A., Sahuquillo, A., Rubio, R., & Rauret, G. (2004). Assessment of metal mobility in dredged harbor sediments from Barcelona, Spain. Science of the Total Environment, 321, 241–255. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2003.08.021 .
Heath, E., Ščančar, J., Zuliani, T., & Milačič, R. (2009). A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River: Part 2: Persistent organic pollutants. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. doi:10.1007/s10661-009-0833-9.
Hines, M. E., Faganeli, J., Adatto, I., & Horvat, M. (2006). Microbial mercury transformations in marine, estuarine and freshwater sediment downstream of the Idrija Mercury Mine, Slovenija. Applied Geochemistry, 21, 1924–1939. doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2006.08.008.
Horvat, M., Jereb, V., Fajon, V., Logar, M., Kotnik, J., Faganeli, J., et al. (2002). Mercury distribution in water, sediment and soil in the Idrijca and Soča river systems. Geochemistry Exploration Environment Analysis, 2, 287–296. doi:10.1144/1467-787302-033.
House, W. A., & Denison, F. H. (2002). Total phosphorus content of river sediments in relationship to calcium, iron and organic matter concentrations. Science of the Total Environment, 282–283, 341–351. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(01)00923-8.
ICPDR (International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River) (2002) Joint danube survey. Technical Report of the International Commission for the protection of the Danube River. Vienna, Austria.
Karadede-Akin, H., & Ünlü, E. (2007). Heavy metal concentrations in water, sediment, fish and some benthic organisms from Tigris River, Turkey. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 131, 323–337. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9478-0.
Kotnik, J., Horvat, M., Milačič, R., Ščančar, J., Fajon, V., & Križanovski, A. (2003). Heavy metals in the sediments of the Sava River, Slovenia. Geologija, 46, 263–272.
Loring, D. H., & Rantala, R. R. T. (1992). Manual for the geochemical analysis of marine sediments and suspended particulate matter. Earth-Science Reviews, 32, 325. doi:10.1016/0012-8252(92)90001-A
McCready, S., Birch, G. F., Long, E. R., Spyrakis, G., & Greely, C. R. (2006a). Predictive abilities of numerical quality guidelines in Sydney Harbour, Australia, and vicinity. Environment International, 32, 638–649. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2006.02.004.
McCready, S., Birch, G. F., Long, E. R., Spyrakis, G., & Greely, C. R. (2006b). An evaluation of Australian sediemnt quality guidelines. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 50, 306–315. doi:10.1007/s00244-004-0233-7.
McGrath, D. (1996). Application of single and sequential extraction procedures to polluted and unpolluted soils. Science of the Total Environment, 178, 37–44. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04795-6.
Meybeck, M., Lestel, L., Bonté, P., Moilleron, R., Colin, J.-L., Rousselot, O., et al. (2007). Historical perspective of heavy metals contamination (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn) in the Seine River basin (France) following a DPISIR approach (1950–2005). Science of the Total Environment, 375, 204–231. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.12.017.
Nguyen, L. M. (1999). Phosphate incorporation and transformation in surface sediments of a sewage-impacted wetland as influenced by sediment sites, sediment pH and added phosphate concentration. Ecological Engineering, 14, 139–155. doi:10.1016/S0925-8574(99)00025-7.
Quevauviller, Ph., Lachica, M., Barahona, E., Rauret, G., Ure, A., Gomez, A., et al. (1996). Interlaboratory comparison of EDTA and DTPA procedures prior to certification of extractable trace elements in calcareous soil. Science of the Total Environment, 178, 127–132. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04804-9.
Quevauviller, Ph., Rauret, G., López-Sánchez, J. F., Rubio, R., Ure, A., & Muntau, H. (1997). Certification of trace metal extractable contents in a sediment reference material (CRM 601) following a three-step sequential extraction procedure. Science of the Total Environment, 205, 223–234. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(97)00205-2.
Rios-Arana, J. V., Walsh, E. J., & Gardea-Torresdey, J. L. (2003). Assessment of arsenic and heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments of the Rio Grande at El Paso-Juarez metroplex region. Environment International, 29, 957–971. doi:10.1016/S0160-4120(03)00080-1.
Santos Bermejo, J. C., Beltrán, R., & Gómez Ariza, J. L. (2003). Spatial variations of heavy metals contamination in sediments from Odiel river (Southwest Spain). Environment International, 29, 69–77. doi:10.1016/S0160-4120(02)00147-2.
Sin, S. N., Chua, H., Lo, W., & Ng, L. M. (2001). Assessment of heavy metal cations in sediments of Shing Mun River, Hong Kong. Environment International, 26, 297–301. doi:10.1016/S0160-4120(01)00003-4.
Sterckeman, T., Gomez, A., & Ciesielski, H. (1996). Soil and waste analysis for environmental risk assessment in France. Science of the Total Environment, 178, 63–69. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04798-0.
Svete, P., Milačič, R., & Pihlar, B. (2000). Partitioning of Zn, Pb, and Cd in river sediments from lead and zinc mining area using the BCR three-step extraction procedure. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 3, 586–590. doi:10.1039/b106311c.
Ščančar, J., Milačič, R., & Horvat, M. (2000). Comparison of various digestion and extraction procedures in analysis of heavy metals in sediments. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 118, 87–99. doi:10.1023/A:1005187602820.
Ščančar, J., Zuliani, T., Turk, T., & Milačič, R. (2007). Organotin compounds and selected metals in the marine environment of Northeren Adriatic Sea. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 127, 271–282. doi:10.1007/s10661-006-9278-6.
Škrbić, B., & Čupić, S. (2004). Trace metal distribution in surface soils of Novi Sad and bank sediment of the Danube River. Journal of Environmental Science and Health. Part A, Environmental Science and Engineering & Toxic and Hazardous Substance Control, 39, 1547–1558.
Šömen Joksič, A., Katz, S.a., Horvat, M., & Milačič, R. (2005). Comparison of single and sequential extraction procedures for assessing metal leaching from dredged costal sediments. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution, 162, 265–283. doi:10.1007/s11270-005-7031-3.
Tack, F. M., & Verloo, M. G. (1996). Impact of single reagent extraction using NH4OAc-EDTA on the solid phase distribution of metals in a contaminated dredged sediment. Science of the Total Environment, 178, 29–36. doi:10.1016/0048-9697(95)04794-8.
Tessier, A., Campbell, P. G. C., & Bisson, M. (1979). Sequential extraction procedure for the speciation of particulated metals. Analytical Chemistry, 51, 844–851. doi:10.1021/ac50043a017.
Tomiyasu, T., Matsuyama, A., Eguchi, T., Fuchigami, Y., Oki, K., Horvat, M., et al. (2006). Spatial variations of mercury in sediment of Minamata Bay, Japan. Science of the Total Environment, 368, 283–290. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.09.090.
Vignati, D., Pardos, M., Diserens, J., Ugazio, G., Thomas, R., & Dominik, J. (2003). Characterisation of bed sediments and suspension of the river Po (Italy) during normal and high flow conditions. Water Research, 37, 2847–2864. doi:10.1016/S0043-1354(03)00133-7.
Woitke, P., Wellmitz, J., Helm, D., Kube, P., Lepom, P., & Litheraty, P. (2003). Analysis and assessment of heavy metal pollution in suspended solids and sediments of the river Danube. Chemosphere, 51, 633–642. doi:10.1016/S0045-6535(03)00217-0.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Milačič, R., Ščančar, J., Murko, S. et al. A complex investigation of the extent of pollution in sediments of the Sava River. Part 1: Selected elements. Environ Monit Assess 163, 263–275 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0832-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-009-0832-x