Toxic elements in water and sediment from six reservoirs in Serbia

Abstract

Water and sediment samples were collected during summer of 2017 from reservoirs: Garaši, Vlasina, Perućac, Zaovine, Međuvršje, Sava Lake. Analysis of As, B, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were performed using inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Accumulation of elements in water and sediment samples varied among reservoirs. Elemental concentrations were higher in sediment compared to water samples. Elemental concentrations did not exceed the MACs prescribed for water. The concentrations of As, Cd, and Pb in sediment of all reservoirs were greater compared to the concentrations of these elements in the continental crust. Concentration of Cr for Zaovine, Cu for Međuvršje, and Ni for Perućac, Zaovine and Međuvršje exceeded the MACs prescribed for sediment. A severe enrichment was recorded for Cd at all studied reservoirs, as well as for As at Garaši and Cr at Zaovine. Sediments of all reservoirs were contaminated; the least contamination was recorded for a water supply reservoir (Garaši).