ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Trace Elements in Surface Water and Bottom
Sediments in the Hyporheic Zone
of Lake Wadąg, Poland
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1
Institute of Geology, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
2
Institute of Physical Geography and Environmental Planning, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences,
Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
3
Institute of Land Improvement, Environmental Development and Geodesy, Faculty of Environmental Engineering
and Spatial Management, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
4
Laboratory of Biological Spatial Information, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań,
Poznań, Poland
Submission date: 2018-07-09
Final revision date: 2019-05-30
Acceptance date: 2019-06-04
Online publication date: 2020-01-23
Publication date: 2020-03-31
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(3):2327-2337
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ABSTRACT
Our paper presents the results of determining the contents of trace elements (TEs) in the surface
water and bottom sediments of Lake Wadąg in Poland’s Masurian Lakeland. The samples were collected
in August 2015. Trace elements were determined in samples using inductively coupled plasma with mass
detection (ICP-QQQ). To assess the chemical composition of surface water, use was made of multivariate
statistical methods of data analysis: cluster analysis (CA) and principal component analysis (PCA).
The use of pollution factors such as the geochemical index (Igeo), pollution index (PI) and pollution
load index (PLI) made it possible to distinguish groups of elements allowing for the analysis of spatial
variation of bottom sediment in the studied area. Results showed increased concentrations of Hg among
all bottom sediment sampling sites. The highest concentrations of determined elements occurred in
sampling site No. 5. Surface water was characterized by Hg, Pb and Cu concentrations higher than those
of Pregoła’s basin. Yet the comparison with average concentrations of these elements in Polish lakes
revealed the increased concentration of Hg.