ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION WITH TOXIC ELEMENTS IN RIVER SEDIMENTS BY CALCULATING FACTORS OF CONTAMINATION AND APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL METHODS
ASSESSMENT OF POLLUTION WITH TOXIC ELEMENTS IN RIVER SEDIMENTS BY CALCULATING FACTORS OF CONTAMINATION AND APPLICATION OF STATISTICAL METHODS

Summary/Abstract: In order to effectively monitor the impact of polluted river sediments on the environment and human health, the information about the origin of toxic elements is very important (geochemical or anthropogenic), their variability and environmental risks associated with pollution. The research in this paper was conducted to assess and quantify contamination, as well as the assessment of risks from pollution with certain elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in river sediments in Serbia. Assessment of contamination was performed by determining the total content of the elements and defining of background content in the sediment, as well as calculating the pollution indexes. Results of multivariate analysis indicate anthropogenic origin of Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Ni and Cu, while Fe, V, Mn, Co and Cr have mixed origin (lithogenic and anthropogenic sources). The most contaminated river systems are Ibar, Pek, Zapadna Morava (West Morava) and Velika Morava(Great Morava). The results show that in the basins of these rivers are important sources of heavy metals, mainly originating from industry and mining basins.

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