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. 2022 Dec 31;11(1):42.
doi: 10.3390/toxics11010042.

Potentially Toxic Elements in Water, Sediments and Fish from the Karstic River (Raša River, Croatia) Located in the Former Coal-Mining Area

Zorana Kljaković-Gašpić  1 , Ankica Sekovanić  1 , Tatjana Orct  1 , Dora Šebešćen  1   2 , Elena Klasiček  1   2 , Davor Zanella  2
Affiliations

Potentially Toxic Elements in Water, Sediments and Fish from the Karstic River (Raša River, Croatia) Located in the Former Coal-Mining Area

Zorana Kljaković-Gašpić et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

The assessment of the environmental quality of a sensitive karst aquatic system under the centuries-long anthropogenic influence of the coal mining industry is important for both improving the quality of water resources and protecting aquatic wildlife and human health. In this study, we investigated the anthropogenic impact on the aquatic environment of the upper and middle course of the Raša River through the analysis of a suite of metal(loid)s in three aquatic compartments (water, sediment, fish) using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations of inorganic constituents in water were low, while the chemical composition of stream sediments mainly reflected the geological background of the area, indicating the origin of metal(loid)s from predominantly natural sources. Although comparison with PEC-Q values indicated that existing sediment quality conditions could pose a threat to benthic organisms with regard to Cr and Ni, the constant vertical profiles of these elements suggested their natural origin from the weathering of flysch. Element levels in the muscle of targeted fish species were in accordance with the values typical for low-contaminated freshwater systems, while levels of Cd, Pb and Hg were mostly below the European regulatory limits for toxic elements in foods, indicating that the low concentrations of most contaminants in muscles of fish from the Raša River do not present a risk to humans or other consumers. The obtained data indicated a generally low contamination status of the western part of the Raša River basin with regard to the analyzed inorganic elements.

Keywords: Adriatic roach (Rutilus aula); European eel (Anguilla anguilla); ICP-MS; Italian barbell (Barbus plebejus); Italian chub (Squalius squalus); Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio); flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus); inorganic pollutants; metal(loid)s; muscle.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Map of the study area. (a) Istrian Peninsula with Raša River (Map modified from Wikipedia), (b) Western part of the Raša River basin (yellow rectangle marked with a dashed line), with locations of sampling sites on the Raša River (formula image), together with locations of former mines in Raša, Labin and Tupljak (formula image) and Thermal Power Plant in Plomin (formula image) (Map modified from Google Earth).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vertical profiles of major and trace elements in sediment cores from the two locations on the Raša River, collected in June 2020.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Vertical profiles of major and trace elements in sediment cores from the two locations on the Raša River, collected in June 2020.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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