ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Geochemical and Statistical Methods
in the Evaluation of Trace Elements
Contamination: an Application
on Canal Sediments
Sanja M. Sakan1, Dragana S. Đorđević1, Snežana S. Trifunović2
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1IChTM, Department of Chemistry, Njegoševa 12 , POB 815, Belgrade 11001, Serbia
2Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Akademski trg 12-16, POB 158, Belgrade 11001, Serbia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2011;20(1):187-199
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ABSTRACT
The contamination levels of V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in canal sediments (Danube alluvial formation)
were assessed to evaluate environmental quality and potential contamination. Results indicate that silicates
and oxides (Fe and Mn) are important for binding investigated elements (Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, V Pb, and Cu).
The values of calculated enrichment factors indicate that the investigated locations includes minor to moderate
enrichment of sediment with Cr, V, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn, except for one location where sediment is
severely enriched with Zn. Factor analysis shows two main anthropogenic sources:
- Cr, Zn, Cd, Ni, V, and Pb are mainly derived from industrial sources and,
- Cu and Pb are mainly derived from other local contamination sources combined with traffic sources.
With increasing distance from the Refinery, the anthropogenic impacts of the metal content were lower
and geochemical control of the contents of the element became dominat, which indicate the influence of the
refinery on the metal pollution in the sediments.