Monitoring and flux determination of trace metals in rivers of the Seversky Donets basin (Ukraine) using DGT passive samplers

Abstract

International audienceThis paper reports the results of the in situ application of diffusive gradients in thin-films (DGT) passive samplers for trace metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) monitoring in transboundary Udy and Lopan rivers of the Seversky Donets watershed in the Kharkiv region (Ukraine), which has a long history of industrial development. The research discusses potential sources of DGT-measured labile metals in water and seasonal variations. Our results demonstrate the application of DGT for identifying and measuring labile metal concentrations in contrasted climate conditions (cold snowy winter and hot summer) and appropriateness of such a tool for continuous water monitoring with the presence of an ice cover. Results show that DGT-measured concentrations of most of trace metals were much higher downstream of the wastewater treatment plants discharges than upstream; thus wastewater treatment plants seemed not able to reduce or to remove trace metals' contaminations and become major sources of pollutants in the studied rivers. The calculation of the average metal fluxes based on the DGT-measured concentrations confirmed that the urban wastewater discharges significantly contribute to the metal fluxes into the Udy and the Lopan rivers during both low-flow and high-flow periods. Compared to the wastewaters inputs to the rivers, the transboundary effect is limited, but should be taken into account as the origin of some metals is from sources located on the adjacent Russian territory

Assessment of treatment efficiency of constructed wetlands in East Ukraine

“…Wastewater samples were taken at each site from inlet and outlet points during the period of the extreme oxygen depletion from late July to mid-October 2012 (Vystavna et al, 2012). Each studied site was sampled twice using the grab sampling technique (ISO/TS 13,530:2009).…”

“…3000,000 inhabitants, 2014) is one of the most industrialised and urbanised areas of Ukraine. In spite of the high population and industries density, the region suffers from the shortage of available water resources (Vystavna et al, 2012). The climate of the study area is a typical for the Forest-Steppe natural zone i.e.…”

“…The warmest month is July (mean temperature +20.8 C). The mean annual temperature of the air is +6.9 C, wind velocity is 4.0 m s À1 and humidity is 74% (Vystavna et al, 2012). Annual precipitation varies between 470 and 540 mm with maximum in May-June.…”

Investigation of nitrate pollution of the hydrosphere in the transboundary area of seversky donets river basin

“…Походження нітратів у поверхневих і підземних водах, що перевищує 3-5 мг/д дослідниками традиційно сприймається як антропогенне, в той же час спеціальни-ми статистичними методами це перевіря-лося на недостатньо широкій базі даних [8] і маючи на увазі наявність в природі специфічних геохімічних умов [9][10][11], де нітрати все ж концентруються, не можна обґрунтовано сприймати техногенну гіпо-тезу як доведену.…”

Assessment of Trace Metals during Episodic Events using DGT Passive Sampler: A Proposal for Water Management Enhancement

“…Inferences can be made since it has an operationally defined measure of DGT-labile trace metals that contains the "bioavailable" fraction (INAP 2002). Success on the use of the DGT in tracing and monitoring labile trace metal species had been documented (Alexa et al2009;Docekalova and Divis 2005;Pérez and Anderson 2009;Vystavna et al 2012a;Sherwood et al 2009;Munksgaard and Lottermoser 2010).…”