Mercury in the bottom sediments of the lower Vistula river ecosystem, Poland - A role of the anthropogenic factor

B. Wyrzykowska; J. Falandysz

doi:doi:10.1051/jp4:20030559

Issue		J. Phys. IV France Volume 107, May 2003


Page(s)		1381 - 1384
DOI		https://doi.org/10.1051/jp4:20030559

J. Phys. IV France 107 (2003) 1381
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:20030559

Mercury in the bottom sediments of the lower Vistula river ecosystem, Poland - A role of the anthropogenic factor

B. Wyrzykowska and J. Falandysz

Department of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry, Sobieskiego St. 18, 80-952 Gdansk, Poland

Abstract
Total mercury concentrations were determined in surface layer of sediments collected in 1998-2001 from several locations along the Lower Vistula River, Poland. The wet digestion (HNO ₃-H ₂SO ₄) method used for sample preparation was both repeatable and quantitative and allowed mercury determination by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). The sediment samples collected from sites located very close to, or within, the urbanized and industrialized areas showed elevated mercury concentrations, reaching up to 370 ng/g dry weight on the average. Geochemical index (I $_{\rm geo}$ ) approach was used to compare "post-industrial" mercury concentration in sediments with natural ("pre-industrial") sediment mercury background.