Assessment of the Ability of Suspended Matter in the Sea of Azov to Concentrate Heavy Metals

M. V. Bufetova

Sergo Ordzhonikidze Russian State Geological Exploration University (MGRI), Moscow, Russia

e-mail: mbufetova@mail.ru

Abstract

With a large specific surface area, suspended matter can concentrate heavy metals to high levels. Falling down by gravity, suspended particles can deposit pollutants into the bottom sediments thus participating in the self-purification of sea water. The purpose of this work is to assess the ability of suspended matter in the Sea of Azov to concentrate Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Hg. For the purpose of the study, two areas of the Sea of Azov were identified (Taganrog Bay and the central part of the sea) given their morphometric and hydrological features. Mass concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd were determined by the electrothermal atomic absorption method; measurements of the mass concentration of Hg were carried out by the method of flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. The content of each metal in suspended matter was calculated in relation to that in water based on the accumulation factors. The obtained accumulation factors indicate a high ability of suspended matter to concentrate mercury, copper and zinc. The concentration of cadmium in the suspended matter was insignificant. This is because in surface waters cadmium migrates mainly in a dissolved state, with the suspended forms normally not exceeding 20–30 %. The content of lead in the suspended matter did not exceed 12.4 % in the central part of the sea and 15.8 % in Taganrog Bay, both of its total content. It is shown that when the values of the factors of heavy metal accumulation by suspended matter exceed 105, almost the entire volume of the studied heavy metals is in the suspended matter. These data indicate the high significance of the suspended matter concentrating ability for self-purification of water from heavy metals.

Keywords

Sea of Azov, suspended matter, mercury, lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, accumulation factor.

Acknowledgments

The work was performed using the data provided by the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Information and Analytical Center for Water Use and Monitoring of the Sea of Azov” (Taganrog).

For citation

Bufetova, M.V., 2022. Assessment of the Ability of Suspended Matter in the Sea of Azov to Concentrate Heavy Metals. Ecological Safety of Coastal and Shelf Zones of Sea, (1), pp. 55–65. doi:10.22449/2413-5577-2022-1-55-65

DOI

10.22449/2413-5577-2022-1-55-65

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