Impact of pollution on rivers in Montenegro: ecotoxicological perspective

Abstract

Montenegrin surface water and groundwater are important for the Balkan Peninsula since they are connected by the transboundary Dinaric Karst Aquifer System with the waters of additional five countries. The pollution from the surface water can rapidly infiltrate in aquifer and endanger this sensible ecosystem and the health of humans through drinking water supply. This chapter gives insights in the pressures of pollution on Montenegrin waters and in a limited literature data regarding freshwater ecotoxicological studies in Montenegro. Also, this chapter provides new ecotoxicological data obtained during survey in 2019, with a focus on the sites which are identified as hotspots of fecal pollution. The highest responses of biomarkers which indicate embryotoxic, genotoxic, and phytotoxic effects in zebrafish embryo test and in roots of Allium cepa were obtained at Ćehotina – downstream of Pljevlja. Similar results were detected at the site downstream Mojkovac at Tara, yet this site is affected by different type of pollution. Genotoxic endpoints in zebrafish stressed out sites on Morača and Lim rivers which are under pressures of fecal pollution. The data in this chapter provides an insight into current status obtained by the ex situ bioassays and indicates need for more comprehensive in situ assessment.