SWS Academic Research eLibraryEarth & Planetary Sciences

Scholarly record

POLLUTION ASSESSMENT OF THE RIVERS FLOWING THROUGH BULGARIAN CITIES. A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Antonina Kovacheva, Diana Rabadjieva, Radost Ilieva, Rumiana Gergulova

First published: 2024-11-15https://doi.org/10.5593/sgem2024/5.1/s20.26View metrics

Abstract

This research compares the water quality in four river bodies passing through different cities in Bulgaria. An eco-chemical approach was applied including physicochemical and analytical measurements, as well as calculation of different pollution indices and the distribution of the element species as an indicator of their bioavailability. The results from analytical measurements and calculated pollution indices show that all the studied water bodies were polluted regarding P-PO43?, N-NH4+, Mn, and Pb. The highest values were measured in the Struma River, which is the result of both natural origin, due to the presence of coal mines, and the unsustainable management of mining and metallurgy activities in the past. The second most polluted is the Iskar River near Sofia city, mainly a consequence of the increased population in recent years. Thermodynamically calculated species of trace metals show that free Mn2+ ions dominate in all rivers being highest in Struma river. They are dangerous for aquatic fauna as free metal ions easily interact with ligands of organic compounds found in the bloodstream and/or within organs. Free ions are also calculated for Zn, but it is less dangerous because its content is significantly less. It was found only at single stations in the Maritsa and Danube rivers. Cu and Pb are potentially the riskiest elements for plants as their dominant organometallic species are easily accumulated by them. Regarding Al, its dominant hydroxy specie

Publication Impact Profile

PlumX
  • Citations
  • CrossRef - Citation Indexes: 1
  • Scopus - Citation Indexes: 1
  • Captures
  • Mendeley - Readers: 1
Dimensions ID: pub.1183084855

Publication details

Title
POLLUTION ASSESSMENT OF THE RIVERS FLOWING THROUGH BULGARIAN CITIES. A COMPARATIVE STUDY
Authors
Antonina Kovacheva, Diana Rabadjieva, Radost Ilieva, Rumiana Gergulova
Proceedings
24th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference Proceedings SGEM 2024, Ecology, Economics, Education and Legislation, Vol 24, Issue 5.1
Publisher
STEF92 Technology
Year
2024
Pages
189-196
SWS Citekey
Kovacheva202420189196
ISSN
1314-2704; 13142704
ISBN
9786197603729
Language
en
Publication type
Conference Paper
Proceedings contents
Open official contents
Keywords
References13
  1. Wang Z., Hua P., Zhang J., Krebs P., Bayesian-Based Approaches to Exploring the Long-Term Alteration in Trace Metals of Surface Water and Its Driving Forces, Environ. Sci. Technol., 57, pp 1658�1669, 2023. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07210

  2. Pitta E., Zeri C., Tzortziou M., Dimitriou E., Paraskevopoulou V., Dassenakis E., Scoullos M., Anagnostou E., Dissolved organic matter cycling in eastern Mediterranean rivers experiencing multiple pressures. The case of the trans-boundary Evros River, Mediterr. Mar. Sci., 15��. 398-415, 2014. DOI: 10.12681/mms.565

  3. Zhang, Z., Tao F., Du J., Shi P., Yu D., Meng Y., Surface water quality and its control in a river with intensive human impacts--a case study of the Xiangjiang River, China, J. Environ. Manag., 91, pp. 2483-2490, 2010. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.07.002

  4. Amin S., Muhammad S., Fatima H., Evaluation and risks assessment of potentially toxic elements in water and sediment of the Dor River and its tributaries, Northern Pakistan, Environ. Technol. Innov., 21, art. No 101333, (2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.eti.2020.101333 [5]. National report on the state and protection of the environment in the Republic of Bulgaria, 2023 (in Bulgarian). Available at https://eea.government.bg/bg/soer/2023/soer-bg-2023.pdf

  5. Gartsiyanova K., Varbanov M., Kitev A., Genchev S., Water quality analysis of the rivers Topolnitsa and Luda Yana, Bulgaria using different indices, J. Phys. Conf. Ser., 1960, art. No 012018, 2021. DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1960/1/012018

  6. Radeva K., Seymenov K., Surface Water Pollution with Nutrient Components, Trace Metals and Metalloids in Agricultural and Mining-affected River Catchments (A Case Study for Three Tributaries of the Maritsa River, Southern Bulgaria), Geogr. Pannonica, 25, pp. 214�225, 2021. DOI: 10.5937/gp25-30811

  7. Yordanova, V., Todorova, Y., Belouhova, M., Kenderov, L., Lyubomirova, V., Topalova, Y., Environmental impact assessment of discharge of treated wastewater effluent in Upper Iskar sub-catchment, BioRisk, 17, pp. 59�71, 2022. DOI: 10.3897/biorisk.17.77381

  8. Kovacheva, A., Vladov, I., Gabrashanska, M., Rabadjieva, D., Tepavitcharova, S., Nanev, V., Dassenakis, M., Karavoltsos, S., Dynamics of trace metals in the system water � soil � plant � wild rats � tapeworms (Hymenolepis diminuta) in Maglizh area, Bulgaria, J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 58, art. No126440, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2019.126440

  9. Rabadjieva, D., Tepavitcharova, S., Kovacheva, A., Gergulova, R., Ilieva, R., Vladov, I., Nanev, V., Gabrashanska, M., Karavoltsos, S., Trace metals accumulation in the eco-system water � soil � vegetation (Agropyron cristatum) � common voles (Microtus arvalis) � parasites (Hymenolepis diminuta) in Radnevo region, Bulgaria, J. Trace Elem. Med. Biol., 66, art. No. 126750, 2021. DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2021.126750

  10. Yan, C.A., Zhang, W., Zhang, Z., Liu, Y., Deng, C., Nie, N., Assessment of water quality and identification of polluted risky regions based on field observations&GIS in the Honghe River Watershed, China, PLoS One 10, 3, art. No e0119130, 2015. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0119130

  11. Gustafsson, J.P., Modeling the acid�base properties and metal complexation of humic substances with the Stockholm humic model, J. Colloid. Interface. Sci. 244, pp.102�112, 2001. DOI: 10.1006/jcis.2001.7871

  12. Grenthe, I., Puigdomenech, I., Hummel, W., In: Grenthe, I., Puigdomenech I. (Eds) Modelling in aquatic chemistry, OECD Publications, 1997.

  13. ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry), Toxicological Profile for Manganese, US Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Atlanta USA, 2012. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp151.pdf

Citing literature

Number of times cited according to Crossref: 1

View or Download full articleAccess options
Full paper accessChoose SWS login, librarian support, or instant article download.

SWS access login

Login as SWS Scientific Committee

Authors and approved SWS contributors will read and export their own linked papers after identity matching by SWS profile, email and SGEM GlobalID.

For librarian assistance: [email protected]

Purchase Instant Access

48-hour online accessComing soon
Online-only accessComing soon
Download the full article in PDF formatEUR 35
  • Article can be downloaded after successful payment.
  • Article may be used according to SWS library access terms.
  • Article cannot be redistributed.
Get full paper

Back to publication list