Determination of Mn, Cu and Pb background level in higher aquatic plants within Belarusian reservoirs based on National Monitoring System Data

AbstractThe intensity of heavy metal accumulation by aquatic plants can be used as an indicator of the water body ecological status. Macrophyte-based assessment of the contamination level by heavy metals in aquatic environments assumes their background content data. The background level of Mn, Cu, and Pb contents in aquatic plants of lakes has been determined according to the monitoring data. During the National Environment Monitoring 827 macrophyte samples have been collected from 47 Belarusian reservoirs and lakes. Background and anomalous values have been established empirically with help of such statistical methods as (median  ± 2MAD), Tukey Box Plot and cumulative probability (or Q-Q) plot. The highest threshold values of analyzed elements are obtained for submersed aquatic plants and amount 5817.0 mg/kg for Mn, 78.0 mg/kg for Cu, and 54.7 mg/kg for Pb. The lakes with abnormal metal contents in macrophyte tissues have been revealed. Spatial distribution of Mn, Cu, and Pb anomalous have been analyzed. Some differences in spatial patterns between ecological groups are mainly caused by varying predominant sources of elements intake into plants.
Source: Environmental Quality Management - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research