Study on the quality of ground, spring and river waters in south-east Serbia

Abstract

The study deals with mineral characterization of natural waters from South-East Serbia. The contents of aluminium, arsenic, calcium, cadmium, cobalt, chromium, cooper, iron, potassium, magnesium, manganese, sodium, nickel, lead and zinc were analysed in spring, ground and river waters by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) technique. The study area was in the Southern Serbia, and included slopes of Rtanj, Ozren, Bukovik, Vrdenik and Cemernik mountains, and the valley of South Morava. Obtained contents were compared with Serbian regulations on the quality of water for human use, and directive of World Health Organization (WHO) for maximum allowed concentrations of chemical substances. High contents of macro-elements, namely calcium, magnesium and potassium, were detected in several spring and ground water samples which are believed to be due to direct influence of rock minerals. Some water samples contained iron, manganese and copper in concentration up to 84.2 ?g dm-3, 8.10 ?g dm-3 and 14.9 ?g dm-3, respectively, but within the permissible limits. Other heavy metals were not detected in analysed samples. Based on the derived results, tested ground and spring water samples have significant potential to be used as sources for the production of bottled water, but further investigations are necessary. Additional investigations have to be focused on complete physical, chemical and microbiological assessments of water resources. Systematic hydrogeological assessment also should be performed in all seasons. In the meantime, precautionary measures should be immediately taken to protect and preserve these water resources. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR 31014]

Possible zinc deficiency in the Serbian population: examination of body fluids, whole blood and solid tissues

“…Previous studies have reported that there are insufficient amounts of Zn in the soil (Dragović et al 2008 ; Nikolić et al 2016 ), drinking water (Stojanović et al 2015 ) and food (Djinovic-Stojanovic et al 2017 ) in Serbia. To resolve the important question of potential Zn deficiency in the Serbian population, in this study, we investigated different clinical samples including serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), whole blood and Zn-rich tissues, primarily thyroid and brain tissues.…”

Multi-elemental analysis of real water samples from the Požega area, Serbia

“…or national legislation. Based on the hydrological data and the presence/availability of water resources, Serbia is one of the European countries with an abundance of easily accessible sources of drinking water, which currently satisfy the population needs [4]. The most recent research of the quality of water obtained investigating seven of the biggest rivers in Serbia (Danube, Sava, Drina, Tisa, Velika Morava, Zapadna Morava and Južna Morava) has demonstrated that the River Drina's water mostly complied with the national legislation requirements regarding chemical composition.…”

Radioactivity level and concentration of metals in waters around power plants application of potential method for pollution assessment

“…Oc cur rence of met als in sur face wa ters can be due to nat u ral sources (pre cip i tation and geo chem i cal sources, i. e. dis so lu tion of nat urally oc cur ring min er als con tain ing trace el e ments in the soil zone). Anthropogenic sources such as min ing, fu els, smelt ing of ores and im proper dis posal of in dus trial and mu nic i pal wastes, sig nif i cantly con trib ute to el e vated lev els of met als in wa ters [10,11].…”