Assessment of Metal Exposure, Ecological Status and Required Water Quality Monitoring Strategies in Small- to Medium-Size Temperate Rivers

Filipović Marijić, Vlatka; Sertić Perić, Mirela; Matoničkin Kepčija, Renata; Dragun, Zrinka; Kovarik, Ivana; Gulin, Vesna; Erk, Marijana (2016) Assessment of Metal Exposure, Ecological Status and Required Water Quality Monitoring Strategies in Small- to Medium-Size Temperate Rivers. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 51 (4). pp. 309-317. ISSN 1093-4529

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Abstract

The present study contributes to a better understanding of the seasonal variability of total dissolved metal/metalloid levels and physico- chemical parameters within small- to medium-size freshwater ecosystems in temperate climate region. The research was conducted in four seasons in the Sutla River, medium-size polluted, and the Črnomerec Stream, small-size unpolluted watercourse in Croatia. In the Sutla River, characterized by the rural/industrial catchment, physico-chemical parameters and total dissolved metal concentrations of 21 trace and 4 macro elements were analysed downstream of the point source of pollution, the glass production facility, indicating for the first time their variability across four seasons. Based on dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, nutrient concentrations, conductivity and total chemical oxygen demand, quality status of the Sutla River was good, but moderate to poor during summer, what was additionally confirmed by the highest levels of the most of 25 measured metals/metalloids in summer. Comparison with the reference small- size watercourse, the Črnomerec Stream, indicated significant anthropogenic impact on the Sutla River, most evident for Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb and Tl levels (3-70-fold higher in the Sutla River across all seasons). Generally, presented results indicated significant decrease of the water quality in the anthropogenically impacted small- to medium- size watercourses in summer, regarding physico- chemical water parameters and total dissolved metal/metalloid concentrations, and pointed to significant seasonality of these parameters. Confirmed seasonality of river ecological status indicates that seasonal assessment represents a prerequisite for proper classification of the water quality in small- to medium-size temperate rivers.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Financial support by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia (projects No. 098-0982934-2721 and 119-0000000-1205) is acknowledged. We appreciate the assistance of the Meteorological and Hydrological Service Office for reporting the data on hydrological parameters of the Sutla River and Crnomerec Stream.
Uncontrolled Keywords:	ecological status; trace elements; macro elements; glass production; anthropogenic impact
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Chemistry
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Projects:	Project title Project leader Project code Project type Stanične promjene u vodnih organizama pobuđene metalima- Marijana Erk 098-0982934-2721 MZOS Implementacija funkcionalnog ustroja akvatičkih zajednica u valorizaciji okoliša- Biserka Primc 119-0000000-1205 MZOS
Depositing User:	Vlatka Filipović Marijić
Date Deposited:	03 Sep 2020 11:02
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/3284
DOI:	10.1080/10934529.2015.1109393

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