Chemical composition data for the Danube River and its tributaries sediments were analyzed using positive matrix factorization (PMF). The objective was to identify both natural and anthropogenic sources affecting the catchment area of the river. During the Joint Danube Survey 2 (JDS2) campaign 148 bottom sediments samples were collected. The following elements were analyzed by means of the X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) technique: Al, As, Ca, Cd, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Ti, V and Zn. Mercury was determined by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). Three factors were obtained considering the whole data set (Danube and tributaries), identified as: (1) a carbonate component characterized by Ca and Mg; (2) an alumino-silicate component dominated by Si and Al content and the presence of some metals attributed to natural processes; (3) an anthropogenic source identified by Hg, S, P and some heavy metals load. To better characterize the role of tributaries, the Danube and tributaries data sets, were also analyzed separately. The same three source factors were identified in the Danube data set. For the tributaries, a four-factor source model gave one further factor dominated by S and P, which could be attributed to the use of fertilizers in agriculture.

COMERO Sara;  VACCARO Stefano;  LOCORO Giovanni;  DE CAPITANI Luisa;  GAWLIK Bernd; 

2014-01-02

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

JRC68898

0045-6535,   

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565351301268X,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC68898,   

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.09.028,