Published in Scientific Papers. Series E. Land Reclamation, Earth Observation & Surveying, Environmental Engineering, Vol. XIV
Written by Maria Daniela (IONICA) MIHAILA, Valentina Andreea CĂLMUC, Cătălin PLATON, Puiu-Lucian GEORGESCU, Cătălina ITICESCU
The Danube Basin collects water from nineteen countries and is exposed to significant amounts of pollutants. Heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) are considered critical contaminants of aquatic ecosystems, given their high predilection to enter and accumulate in food chains. The primary sources of heavy metal pollution consist of discharges from agricultural waste, industrial and urban wastewater into the aquatic environment, as well as mining activities. Given their persistence in the environment, it is required to conduct studies on heavy metal concentrations to understand their implications for aquatic life and to assess biomagnification through food chains. For this purpose, various pollution indices are utilised to evaluate the chemical speciation of metals within the environmental system. Shortly, it is essential to prioritize the development of technologies that can facilitate the recovery of harmful heavy metals, while mitigating potential risks to the environment.
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