Supervisors info:
Ευστράτιος Κελεπερτζής, Αναπληρωτής Καθηγητής, Τμήμα Γεωλογίας και Γεωπεριβάλλοντος, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Geochemical analysis of potentially toxic sediment elements in the Asopos river basin, was performed by determining the content of heavy metals Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn and Mn in 13 surface sediment samples, along side the river. Mineralogical analysis of the samples was performed by the X-ray diffraction method and trace element content of the geochemical research was performed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (F-AAS) method. Partial dissolution method (semi-total content) applied in total 21 sediment samples referring to 13 samples collected together with duplicate samples and reference standard samples, and was performed in 4 steps using EPA METHOD 3050B.
Statistic analysis of the results, indicated that concentrations of Cr, Ni and Mn in the sediment samples are due to the enrichment of the surface sediments from the weathering of the ultramafic structures (ophiolite complexes), of the study area. Metal concentration of Cr, Ni and Mn in collecting samples are 110851mg/kg, 141-1303mg/kg and 181-816mg/kg. It is noted that Cr concentrations exceed both the international environmental limits (SQGs and PECs) while Ni exceeds only the PEC concentrations for river sediments.
In the industrial zone’ s collected samples, concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cu, are the result of the low degree impact of human activities associated with the extensive industrial zone production of the study area. The corresponding concentrations rates, from the above metals 21-284mg/kg, 27-311mg/kg and 8229mg/kg.
