Assessment of Heavy Metals in Carasuhat and Zaghen Ecological Restoration Areas (Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve)

Authors

  • Iasemin Suliman
  • Iuliana – Mihaela Tudor
  • Orhan Ibram
  • Lucica Tofan

Abstract

The objective of this research was to evaluate the heavy metal levels in the Carasuhat and Zaghen, ecological restoration areas, within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. The Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique was used to analyze six heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr) in the water samples collected during spring, summer, and autumn in 2022. The results indicated that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn (µg/L) were generally within the acceptable limits for Quality Class I (Very Good) and Quality Class II (Good). The study concludes that the degree of heavy metal contamination in the investigated areas is acceptably low and consequently presents a low environmental risk to aquatic life.

Acknowledgments: This work was carried out within the framework of Danube Delta Nucleus Programme Contract nr 41N/2019, PN 19 12 01 02 2019-2022, supported by the Romanian Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digitization, and the project PROINVENT in the framework of Human Resources Development Operational Programme 2014-2020, financed from the European Social Fund under the contract number 62487/03.06.2022 POCU 993/6/13/ – Cod SMIS: 153299.

Published

2024-02-13

Issue

Section

Abstracts