Abstract

The abandoned copper mine in the Moldova Noua area is still producing mining pollution today due to the drying of tailings ponds and the carrying of contaminated dust by the winds, leading to potential contamination of surface waters and groundwaters. The purpose of this study is the assessment of some surface waters and groundwaters potentially contaminated by mining pollutants from Moldova Noua area regarding their hydrochemical and ecotoxicological properties. The physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity) were determined in situ, with the concentrations of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) being determined in the laboratory. Inhibition of acid phosphatase enzymatic activity and yeast toxicity tests were the two ecotoxicological tests used for the evaluation of mining pollution effects on the quality of surface waters and groundwater. The results highlighted that most of the physicochemical parameters and heavy metal concentrations were within normal limits. With the exception of the surface water sample collected from the Bosneag River, upstream of Moldova Noua, all samples induced inhibition compared to the positive control in the ecotoxicological tests applied. Statistically significant correlations were observed, with the total concentration of iron ions presenting the most statistically significant correlations with other parameters. A grading scale was used to assess the state of the waters, highlighting the weak impact of mining pollutants on the analysed samples.

Details

Title
Hydrochemical and Ecotoxicological Characterisation of Water Samples from Moldova Noua Area, Romania
Author
Vulpe, Constantina Bianca 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Boros, Bianca Vanesa 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Matica, Mariana Adina 3   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Menghiu, Gheorghița 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Diana Larisa Roman 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Dascălu, Daniela 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Kovačević, Renata 4   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Ostafe, Vasile 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Biology-Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timisoara, Pestalozzi 16, Timisoara, 300115, Romania; Department of Chemistry-Biology, Institute for Advanced Environmental Research, West University of Timisoara, Oituz 4C, Timisoara, 300086, Romania 
 Department of Biology-Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Biology, Geography, West University of Timisoara, Pestalozzi 16, Timisoara, 300115, Romania 
 Department of Chemistry-Biology, Institute for Advanced Environmental Research, West University of Timisoara, Oituz 4C, Timisoara, 300086, Romania 
 Mining and Metallurgy Institute Bor, Zeleni bulevar 35, 19210 Bor, Serbia 
Pages
357-372
Publication year
2023
Publication date
2023
Publisher
De Gruyter Poland
ISSN
18986196
e-ISSN
20844549
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2872894274
Copyright
© 2023. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0 (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.