Cadmium contamination of sediments in the water reservoirs in Silesian Upland (southern Poland)

Purpose Cadmium (Cd) is considered a toxic element and its concentrations are relevant to human health and the environment. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which the bottom sediments of water bodies (artificial lakes and ponds) in the Silesian Upland in southern Poland are contaminated with Cd; an attempt was also made to determine the factors that condition spatial differences in the concentration of this element between individual water bodies in the region. Materials and methods Measurements of the Cd content in bottom sediments were carried out in 35 water bodies in southern Poland in 2011 and 2012. Depending on the surface area and morphometric characteristics, from two to nine samples representative in terms of sediment thickness were collected in each water body. Cadmium concentrations were determined for 92 0.25 g aliquots using the TD-ICP method. Results and discussion Cadmium content in all samples (0.7–580.0 mg kg−1) was higher than the natural range of concentrations for this element in the Earth’s crust (0.1–0.3 mg kg−1) and the geochemical background for Poland (0.5 mg kg−1) and, with a few exceptions, was also higher than the preindustrial concentration (1.0 mg kg−1) and the regional geochemical background (2.5 mg kg−1). Adopting natural Cd concentrations in the Earth’s crust (0.1–0.3 mg kg−1) as the baseline for the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the sediments examined can be classified as extremely and heavily contaminated (and moderately contaminated in a small number of cases). The assessment of sediment quality based on Igeo, with the regional geochemical background (2.5 mg kg−1) adopted as the baseline, results in non-contaminated and moderately contaminated sediments being dominant with a far smaller number of heavily and extremely contaminated ones. Conclusions In the case of several water bodies, Cd concentrations were at record levels that have not been found anywhere else in the world. On the basis of the Igeo, sediments of varying quality were found—from virtually uncontaminated to extremely contaminated. The Igeo index as an indicator of the quality of bottom sediments is a measure that requires careful interpretation, especially when different concentration levels regarded as natural are used for determining its value

Composition and physico-chemical properties of bottom sediments in the southern part of the Bratsk Reservoir (Russia)

The paper presents the results of studies of bottom sediments taken from the southern part of the Bratsk Reservoir. The following analyses have been conducted: trace element analysis, particle-size analysis as well as chemical analysis of water, hydrochloric acid and alkaline extracts for 18 samples of the bottom sediments. The granulometric analysis has identified the predominance of fine silt and silty-clayed sediments. The data on the content of trace elements in the bottom sediments of the Bratsk Reservoir is presented in comparison with their content in the natural environment of the Baikal region; the anomaly ratio was used to characterize the excess for trace elements. The chemical analysis of extracts has showed “saline contamination” of mud (silt), high concentration of carbonates in it, as well as the presence of mobile (free) forms of aluminum oxide. In this research, an attempt was made by using a correlation analysis to evaluate the impact of various physical and chemical characteristics of the bottom sediments, such as the content of clay fraction, organic carbon, carbonates, and water-soluble salts on the accumulation of trace elements

Accumulation of trace elements in bottom sediments of the Otmuchów and Dzierżno Duże reservoirs (Odra river basin, Southern Poland)

Skład chemiczny osadów dennych zbiorników wodnych określono meto-dami ICP i INAA. Dowiedziono, że niektóre z mikroskładników (As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, S, Sr, V, Zn) znacznie od-biegają ilością od poziomów uznawanych za naturalne w osadach wodnych Polski. Osady denne zbiornika Otmuchów reprezentują klasy osadów od praktycznie niezanieczyszczonych do silnie zanieczyszczonych (-1,26 Igeo < 3,89), osady zbiornika Dzierżno Duże mieszczą się natomiast w przedziale od niezanieczyszczonych do ekstremalnie zanieczysz-czonych (0,34 Igeo < 5,20). Wskaźniki zanieczyszczenia świadczą o umiarkowanym zanieczyszczeniu osadów dennych zbiornika Otmuchów (0,1 < Cif < 3,4) i nawet bardzo wysokim zanieczyszczeniu osadów dennych w zbiorniku Dzierżno Duże (0,7 < Cif < 8,5). Stopień zanieczyszczenia osadów dennych jest niski w przypadku zbiornika Otmuchów (Cd = 5,2), a w przypadku zbiornika Dzierżno Duże (Cd = 22,6) świadczy o znacznym zanieczyszczeniu. Wzbogacenie składu che-micznego osadów, świadczy o kumulacji w osadach dennych pierwiastków śladowych, które wobec przekroczenia tła geochemicznego należy utożsamiać z zanieczyszczeniami

The development of freshwater deltas and their environmental and economic significance

The article presents the results of studies concerning the delta forms that arise as a result of the sedimentation of the debris fed to water bodies by watercourses. The study covered several dozen anthropogenic water bodies in the Upper Silesia region, which is well known for its high degree of urbanisation and industrialisation. Basic research work included morphometric measurements of deltas, analyses of the mechanical and chemical composition of delta sediments and analyses of the chemical composition of the common reed growing on the deltas. The research has demonstrated that the deltas exhibit certain characteristics typical of anthropogenic forms that result from the pollutants found in watercourses. In delta sediments, grains of sand usually dominate, but in many cases the share of the < 0.02 mm fraction is as high as ca. 30%. Sediments often contain fine coal and other organic pollutants, which is reflected by high weight loss on ignition. The content of trace elements in delta sediments is usually many times higher than the geochemical background for all types of sedimentary rocks. Deltas are an environment where pollutants accumulate and some of them are assimilated by plants. The content of macro elements in common reed tissues from different deltas does not vary widely while the content of trace elements often results from their content in the sediments. The material that forms deltas can be extracted and in some cases even used as fuel

Anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of bottom sediments of water bodies in the neighborhood of a non-ferrous metal smelter (Silesian Upland, Southern Poland)

An assessment was carried out of the anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of the bottom sediments of water bodies situated in an area with an urban and industrial character (63.7% of the total area). The endorheic catchments of the water bodies studied are lithologically uniform with sandy formations accounting for more than 90% of the surface area. On the basis of geoaccumulation index values, it was found that the bottom sediments of the water bodies studied were contaminated with the following elements: Cd, Zn, S, As, Pb, Sr, Co, Cr, Cu, Ba, Ni, V, Be, in degrees ranging from moderate to extreme, with lower contamination (or absence of contamination) with the same elements being found in the formations present in the vicinity and in the substrate of the basins of water bodies. It was found that one consequence of the fact that these water bodies are located in urban and industrial areas is that there is anthropogenic enrichment of the chemical composition of bottom sediments with certain basic components (organic matter, Mn, Ca and P compounds) and trace elements: Cd, Zn, Pb, Sb, As, Cu and Co, Br, Ni, S, Be, Cs, Sr, V, Cr, Sc, Ba, U, Ce, Eu and Th, with virtually no enrichment of sediments with the other basic and trace components analysed (La, Rb, K2O, Nd, Sm, Na2O, Hf, SiO2, Zr)

Rodzaj użytkowania terenu jako wskaźnik antropogenizacji zlewni i zbiorników wodnych (na przykładzie Wyżyny Śląskiej i jej obrzeży)

The aim of the study was to determine the type of land use in the catchment areas of the five water bodies studied and also to attempt to identify the relationship between the type of land use in the catchment and the anthropogenisation of water bodies. The structure (by surface area) of the main forms of land use in the water body catchments studied is as follows: from 0.4 km2 to 10.5 km2 – land covered with water, from 0.03 km2 to 172.0 km2 – urban and industrialised areas, from 1.8 km2 to 127.2 km2 – woodland, and from 0.3 km2 to 232.8 km2 – agricultural land and wasteland. The percentage shares of the main types of land use in the overall catchment area of the water bodies studied are: 1.9–15.9% – land covered with water, 1.2–31.7% – urban and industrialized areas, 21.7–72.2% – woodland, and 10.6–71.9% – agricultural land and wasteland. The main forms of land use in the catchment areas of the water bodies studied are reflected by the diversity of certain physicochemical parameters of the water retained in their basins. There is a relationship between the main forms of land use in the catchments of the water bodies analysed and the anthropogenisation of relief within their basins, but further research would be required to confirm this

Mill pond sediments as the indicator of the environment of the drainage area (an example of Liswarta River, Odra basin, Poland)

The geochemical characteristics of sediments deposited within a channel-type reservoir situated behind the weir of a water mill on the River Liswarta (southern Poland) were studied in relation to land use in the catchment. The catchment in question is an agricultural one with large forest areas. The contamination of sediments with trace elements was assessed using the geoaccumulation index. The sediments studied were moderately to heavily contaminated with As, Cu, Co, Ni and Ba. They were also heavily contaminated with Sr. Additionally, V and Cr contamination ranged from heavy to extreme. The basic composition of sediments and the trace elements present in them indicate both natural and anthropogenic sources of pollution. Mill impoundments provide zones where the sediments transported by rivers accumulate. Within the Liswarta catchment, their removal may cause the remobilisation of contaminated alluvial deposits

Procesy brzegowe w obrębie jezior antropogenicznych w regionie górnośląskim (południowa Polska)

Upper Silesia region there are some thousand anthropogenic lakes. There are mainly reservoirs in: subsidence depressions, post-exploitation, dam, dike and many others. Every reservoir is the advantageous place to accumulate debris material in the zone of river and lake waters contact. The Kłodnica delta, originated in the mouth zone of this stream into Dzierżno Duże water re-servoir, reaches the most spectacular sizes. The signs of intensive morphological changes are abrasion landforms (e.g. cliffs, terraces) – not numerously occurring at shores of dam reservoirs but their abundance within post-exploitation reservoirs is ob-served. The accumulative landforms (sandy tips, beaches, mineral and organic shore bars, shallows, accumulation zones fixed by vegetation) occur within the majority of water reservoirs, especially within these of mature shore relief. The decided majo-rity of natural processes modelling their shape is significant for young stage of development of landforms of bottom and littoral zone

Zbiornik Dzierżno Duże

"Zbiornik Dzierżno Duże znajduje się na pograniczu wschodniej części Kotliny Raciborskiej (318.59), która jest mezoregionem Niziny Śląskiej (318.5) i zachodniej części Wyżyny Katowickiej (314.13) zaliczanej do Wyżyny Śląskiej (341.1). Zlewnia zbiornika Dzierżno Duże o powierzchni 530 km2 prawie w całości jest położona także na Wyżynie Katowickiej, a tylko niewielkie skrawki północnego i południowego obrzeżenia zlewni zalicza się do sąsiednich mezoregionów. Pod względem administracyjnym zbiornik znajduje się w zachodniej części województwa śląskiego" [...] (fragm.

Wybrane przemiany geomorfologiczne mis zbiorników wodnych i ocena zanieczyszczeń osadów zbiornikowych w warunkach zróżnicowanej antropopresji (na przykładzie regionu górnośląsko-zagłębiowskiego)

In geomorphological terms, the existence of water bodies entails a number of environmental consequences. The very emergence of such water bodies results in changes to the local erosion base and leads to the activation of qualitatively new morphogenetic processes. Geomorphological transformations concern each aspect of a depression that retains water. The contact zone between fluvial and limnic waters is subject to geomorphological modelling. As a result of sedimentation processes, the configuration of the bottom is altered. The coastal zone and even the area situated above, which is outside the reach of waves, are also transformed. Geomorphological transformations within water bodies exhibit varied natural and socio‑economic impacts, which are largely due to the fact that their occurrence is conditioned by diverse environmental factors. The water bodies studied are situated in the so‑called Upper Silesia‑Dąbrowa Basin region (Figs. 1 and 2) whose western part belongs to Upper Silesia and the eastern one to Western Lesser Poland in historical and ethnographic terms. In physical and geographical terms, it includes the Silesian Upland and the adjacent parts of several other macroregions. This area is considered the most anthropogenically transformed part of Poland, which has lately lost its industrial importance to the rapidly growing service sector. In the Upper Silesia‑Dąbrowa Basin region, a significant number of water bodies have emerged, especially in the recent few decades. The group of 53 water bodies selected for geomorphological studies, which range from a few years to ca. 150 years in age, with an average of ca. 60 years, is a representative sample of all water bodies that form the anthropogenic lake district (Table 1). The different origins, morphometric and hydrochemical parameters and also catchment parameters of these water bodies make it possible to conduct studies that are unique due to the peculiar characteristics of the geomorphological transformations, which provide evidence of spontaneous natural response to anthropogenic changes in land relief resulting from diverse but sustained human impact on the environment (Figs. 3—5). Against the background of other anthropogenic water bodies around the world, the geomorphological transformations of water bodies in the Upper Silesia‑Dąbrowa Basin region occur on a micro scale but can at the same time be analysed under peculiar “field laboratory” conditions