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Pollution assessment using local enrichment factors: the Berounka River (Czech Republic)

  • Sediments, Sec 1 • Sediment Quality and Impact Assessment • Research Article
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Abstract

Purpose

The Berounka River is considered a relatively clean river, but recent studies have reported various levels of pollution. The purpose of this work is to identify anthropogenic pollution by metals (i.e. Pb, Zn, Cu) and magnetic particles in the sediments of that river and its tributaries.

Materials and methods

Samples were obtained from hand-drilled cores taken from representative areas within the fluvial system; in distal floodplains (overbank fines) and closer to the channel (laterally deposited sediments). Samples were subjected to analysis using mass magnetic susceptibility (MS), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and also by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP MS) which allowed for a determination of 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios. Macroelement ratios (K/Ti and Ti/Al) were used to distinguish variegated sediment provenance in the Berounka system. Normalization of trace elements by Ti (in the case of trace elements) and by Fe (magnetic susceptibility) allowed us to establish lithogenic background functions of trace elements and magnetic susceptibility within these two geologically different areas. A pollution assessment of the study area was performed using magnetic susceptibility and local enrichment factors (LEFs) for the risk elements. By comparing 1/(LEF Pb) and Pb isotopic composition, the origins of Pb within the catchment were determined. This unique method was able to distinguish Pb from various origins.

Results and discussion

The upper parts of the floodplain cores contained higher levels of trace elements and magnetic particles (anthropogenically polluted), but samples taken from the cores in the active channel belt exhibited considerably higher concentrations of trace elements and magnetic particles than the upper parts of the floodplain cores and to much greater depths. We interpreted the deeper parts of the floodplain cores as a local lithogenic background. The upper parts of floodplain sediments hence showed moderate pollution (LEF of Pb and Zn ∼2, MS ∼2.5); whereas laterally deposited sediments showed significantly higher LEF values (LEF of Pb ∼6, Zn ∼9, MS ∼8).

Conclusions

The analysis of the sediments confirmed that the Berounka River system contains higher concentrations of trace elements and magnetic particles than can be accounted for by natural geological processes. Our pollution assessment of the Berounka River and its tributaries demonstrated that their sediments are moderately polluted from sources situated on its tributaries: Ag–Pb mining near the city of Stříbro in the Mže catchment; Pb–Zn mining in the Příbram ore district in the Litavka catchment and Fe ore processing and smelting in the Klabava catchment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded by a grant project GA UK (no. 545512) for T. Nováková from the Grant Agency of the Charles University, Prague. The essential for GIS work was funded by a student grant project from J.E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem. The processing of hundreds of sedimentary samples for ED XRF analysis was performed thanks to institutional support provided by Institute of Inorganic Chemistry AS CR, Řež and work by laboratory technicians (R. Barochová, Z. Hájková and P. Vorm).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry AS CR, v.v.i., Husinec-Řež 1001, 250 68, Řež, Czech Republic

    Tereza Nováková, Tomáš Matys Grygar & Kristýna Kotková

  2. Charles University, Faculty of Science, Albertov 6, 128 43, Prague, Czech Republic

    Tereza Nováková, Kristýna Kotková, Ladislav Strnad & Martin Mihaljevič

  3. Faculty of Environment, J.E. Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic

    Tomáš Matys Grygar & Jitka Elznicová

Authors
  1. Tereza Nováková
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  2. Tomáš Matys Grygar
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  3. Kristýna Kotková
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  4. Jitka Elznicová
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  5. Ladislav Strnad
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  6. Martin Mihaljevič
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Correspondence to Tereza Nováková.

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Responsible editor: Marc Babut

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Nováková, T., Matys Grygar, T., Kotková, K. et al. Pollution assessment using local enrichment factors: the Berounka River (Czech Republic). J Soils Sediments 16, 1081–1092 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1315-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-015-1315-z

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