Temperate urban streams as summer-critical ecosystems regarding metal contamination

Dragun, Zrinka; Sertić Perić, Mirela; Mikulčić, Marta; Dražina, Tvrtko; Filipović Marijić, Vlatka; Matoničkin Kepčija, Renata (2022) Temperate urban streams as summer-critical ecosystems regarding metal contamination. Water, Air & Soil Pollution, 233 . ISSN 0049-6979

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Abstract

Urbanization leads to a change in the natural state of the environment, including changes in natural aquatic habitats within urbanized zones. In the present study, the urbanization influence on water quality of urban streams, as important sources of drinking water and zones for urban population recreation, was investigated along two streams in Zagreb (Croatian capital). The upper reaches of the two urban streams are largely pristine (located within a nature park), whereas their downstream reaches are physically altered and impacted by anthropogenic (residential, municipal, industrial, agricultural) activities. Several physico-chemical parameters were measured in the streams using standardized methods, whereas concentrations of 30 dissolved metals/metalloids were measured in the water using high resolution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. Although the water quality of studied streams was rather good, the influence of urbanization was obvious. Different contamination levels were observed along the two streams, depending on the specific anthropogenic activities and contamination increase in the stream reaches closer to the city centre. Furthermore, the summer season of low water-level and water discharges was proven as the most critical, with the significant increase of many metals/metalloids in the water. Since the stream quality evidently reflected the urbanization, the continuous monitoring of urban watercourses is recommended, especially during the warmer periods. The results of this study could contribute to understanding the “urban stream syndrome” effects along the urban stream gradients, as well as its seasonal specificities.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	agriculture ; metals/metalloids ; nutrients ; organic contamination ; urban streams ; water
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences > Environmental Science
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Depositing User:	Zrinka Dragun
Date Deposited:	26 Jan 2024 14:06
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/8357
DOI:	10.1007/s11270-022-05774-8

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