Distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the water and sediments of the River Sava

Abstract

The distribution and accumulation of assorted heavy metals and a long-lived radionuclide (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, U, Th and 137Cs) in the water and sediment of the River Sava (in Serbia) were investigated at three locations in the vicinity of industrial and urban settlements (Sabac, Obrenovac, Belgrade). The concentrations of heavy metals in the sediment were found to be in the ranges: 29.6-145.1 mg kg-1 for Cu, 53.2-253.6 mg kg-1 for Zn, 14.2- 78.6 mg kg-1 for Pb, 0.3-24.6 mg kg-1 for Cd and 4.0-12.5 Bq l-1 for 137Cs. These values correlate to the concentrations in the river water if expressed by equilibrium distribution coefficients Kd (dm3 g-1) between the solid and liquid phases. The degrees of accumulation and enrichment of tracer metals were determined.