Selected technology-critical elements as indicators of anthropogenic contamination of surface water and suspended solids on the example of the Biala Przemsza River (Poland)

Pollution of surface waters from anthropogenic activities is a global problem, affecting natural ecosystems, having a large impact on the life and health of living organisms. The development of mining and metallurgic industries of Pb and Zn ores in the Biala Przemsza cachment area has had a strong influence on the surface waters and suspended solids. This paper proposes the use of selected critical elements such as Tl, Te, Ga, Ge and In as indicators of anthropogenic pollution of surface waters and suspended solids on the example of the Biala Przemsza River. The impact of strongly anthropogenic urban-industrial catchment on the temporal and spatial distribution of the selected TCEs content in the water and suspension of the Biala Przemsza River depending on the oxygen, pH and Eh conditions is presented. Research has shown that selected critical elements such as Te, Ge, and In can be indicators of anthropogenic pollution of surface waters. In the case of the Biala Przemsza River, elements such as Ga and Tl cannot be indicators of anthropogenic pollution due to their presence in the zinc and lead ore deposits occurring in the river basin. Correlation matrices showed significant relationships between the selected TCEs and other water parameters. The calculated water pollution indices confirmed that the Biala Przemsza River is the most polluted in the last three sampling points.

Automated summary

Pollution of surface waters from anthropogenic activities is a global problem with significant impacts on ecosystems and living organisms. This study proposes the use of selected critical elements as indicators of anthropogenic pollution in the Biala Przemsza River. The results show that Te, Ge, and In can be reliable indicators, while Ga and Tl cannot due to their presence in natural deposits. Correlation analysis reveals significant relationships between these critical elements and other water parameters.