Lessons Learnt from the Revitalisation of Chemical Factory in Marktredwitz and River Banks Downstream: When 'Renaturation' Can Be Harmful

Our study addressed mercury contamination hotspots that originated from Chemical Factory Marktredwitz, Germany. The factory was abandoned in 1985 but its legacy has been persistently endangering the river ecosystem of the Ohre River, a Labe (Elbe) River tributary in the Czech Republic. We identified the timing for the peak contamination of fine sediments entering the Skalka Reservoir located on the Ohre River downstream of the Czech German boundary. Age constraints for the reservoir sediments were obtained using gamma spectrometry analyses of Cs-137 and unsupported (excess) Pb-210. We also summarised historical and current Hg concentrations in suspended particulate matter in the Kossein-Roslau-Ohre river system and recent Hg concentrations in aquatic plants. Secondary contamination and its transfer to the Czech stretch of the Ohre River and the Skalka Reservoir through severely contaminated suspended material peaked during the period of factory closure and the start of remediation. The Hg contamination import to the Czech Republic is not likely to improve if the river is left without traditional management of bank reinforcement. This case study highlights a gap in safety regulations for the management of severely contaminated rivers and demonstrates the need to consider the role of historical contamination in river 'renaturation'.

Automated summary

Our study focuses on mercury contamination hotspots originating from a chemical factory in Germany. The legacy of the factory has been consistently endangering the river ecosystem in the Czech Republic. We identified the peak contamination of fine sediments entering a downstream reservoir and summarized the historical and current mercury concentrations in the river system.