Elements' Content in Stream Sediment and Wildfire Ash of Suburban Areas in West Attica (Greece)

The composition of sediments and other materials occurring in streams, geochemical processes within the drainage basin, and various land uses are among the main factors influencing stream water composition. Stream sediment and wildfire ash samples were gathered from the area studied. The applied methodology consists of aqua regia and Diethylene-Triamine-Penta-Acetic acid (DTPA) chemical extraction; Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), pH, and soil organic matter (OM) determination; a Geographic Information System (GIS) database; factor analysis; and determination of the contamination factor (CF) for the assessment of contamination degree. This study aimed to evaluate the elements' content in stream sediments of Kineta and Nea Peramos areas (West Attica, Greece) and investigate any relationship between elements (aqua regia and DTPA extracted) in stream sediment and ash in wildfire and flood-impacted areas. The stream sediments' properties, the bioavailable forms of copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn), and the total content of other potentially toxic elements in wildfire ash samples, are discussed. This research estimated moderate contamination for Fe-DTPA, Mn-DTPA and Zn-DTPA in stream sediments of the study area. Contamination for Cu-DTPA and moderate contamination for Zn-DTPA in the stream sediments of the Nea Peramos area was recorded. Factor analysis results suggested that the contents of Fe-DTPA, Mn-DTPA, Cu-DTPA and Zn-DTPA in the study area's stream sediments may affect the chemistry of stream water.

Automated summary

This study aimed to evaluate the element content in stream sediments in West Attica, Greece and investigate the relationship between elements in sediments and wildfire ash. The results showed moderate contamination in stream sediments, which may affect the chemistry of stream water.