Mijošek, Tatjana; Kljaković-Gašpić, Zorana; Kralj, Tomislav; Valić, Damir; Redžović, Zuzana; Šariri, Sara; Karamatić, Ivana; Filipović Marijić, Vlatka (2023) Spatial and temporal variability of dissolved metal(loid)s in water of the karst ecosystem: consequences of long-term exposure to wastewaters. Environmental Technology & Innovation, 32 . ISSN 2352-1864
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Abstract
The metal(loid) variability in the sensitive karst ecosystem was addressed as possible indicator of short- and long-term exposure to the wastewaters, recognized as the main metal contamination sources. Industrial and municipal wastewaters are released without proper purification only 2 km upstream from the Krka National Park (KNP) in Croatia. The variability of dissolved metal(loid)s was studied in four seasons and eight locations: Krka River source (reference site, KRS), municipal wastewaters from the Town of Knin (KRK), industrial wastewaters from the screw factory (IWW), Brljan Lake in the KNP (KBL), and the tributaries Krčić (TKR), Kosovčica (TKO), Orašnica (TOR) and Butišnica (TBU). Water taken directly from IWW had several times higher concentrations of all elements than other locations and indicated industrial wastewater as the primary Mn, Zn, Co, Cs, and Fe source. Tributary Orašnica, flowing by IWW, was the most affected site, although higher metal concentrations were also found at other locations compared to KRS. Overall, spatial metal contamination followed the order: TOR>KRK>TKO>TBU>KBL>KRS. Seasonality was not pronounced, although the highest levels for most metals were observed in summer, dry season when the selfpurification processes are reduced. Almost all elements had low tendency to bind with particles, therefore showing high presence in dissolved fraction and confirming their bioavailability and potential toxicity. Although metal concentrations increased over time, they were still low compared to metal-contaminated rivers. However, observed metal exposure and inter-site differences present a warning and indicate the need for the targeted continuous monitoring of potential hotspots to protect this karst ecosystem.
| Item Type: | Article | ||||||||
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| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Wastewater pollution; Metal toxicity; The Krka River; Heavy metals; Anthropogenic impact; Water quality | ||||||||
| Subjects: | NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences > Environmental Science |
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| Divisions: | Division for Marine and Enviromental Research Division of Molecular Biology |
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| Depositing User: | Tatjana Mijošek | ||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 28 Jul 2023 08:57 | ||||||||
| URI: | http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/8124 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.eti.2023.103254 |
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