The application of pollution indexes in the assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediments

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the heavy metal pollution in sediments of the Olt River, upstream and downstream of industrial platform Ramnicu Valcea. The sediment samples were collected from the Olt River, in four locations during 2011-2014. Contamination factors (CF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), degree contamination (CH), modified degree contamination (mCH), pollution load index (PLI), Nemerow pollution index (PI), potential ecological risk (RI), were used to evaluate the quality of the Olt River sediments. In sediments from the Olt River there was generally observed a decrease in contamination with heavy metals during investigated period. In the points located upstream the industrial platform (AM-PO and PO) was found a moderate contamination with Ni, Cd and Cu, with Pb in point AM-PO, with Zn in point PO. In the point AMPO was found from a moderate contamination at a significantly contamination with Hg (June 2013 and May 2014). In the points located upstream the industrial platform was found a level of pollution "heavily polluted", in May 2011, June 2013 and May 2014 for AM-PO point and May 2011 and May 2014 for PO point.