Evaluation of contamination with priority hazardous substances in Olt River water and sediments near the industrial platform of Ramnicu Valcea

Abstract

This paper aims to establish the pollution degree with priority hazardous substances in water and sediments of the Olt River, near the industrial platform Râmnicu Vâlcea area. The study area was a 20 km long section of the lower basin of the Olt River. Water and sediment samples have been collected from the three sections, distributed to upstream and downstream of the industrial platform.The following priority hazardous substances have been determined: copper, nickel, lead, mercury, cadmium, zinc, chromium, cobalt, 1,2- dichloroethane, 1,1,2-trichlorethylene, perchlorethylene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Higher concentrations of chromium, copper, zinc and cadmium have been observed in the upstream section of the platform, and nickel, mercury and lead downstream the platform. In the sediment of the Olt River, higher concentrations of nickel, copper, zinc and lead have been found in the upstream section of the platform Ramnicu Valcea, while the concentrations of nickel, mercury and lead have been found in the downstream section. Moreover, in the sediments of Olt river similar heavy metals are found correspondingly, while the organochlorine compound content was below the detection limit.