Preliminary statistical relationship between heavy metals in Lower Danube sediments

  • Valentina Andreea Calmuc Dunarea de Jos University of Galati
  • Madalina Călmuc Dunarea de Jos University of Galati
  • Maxim Arseni Dunarea de Jos University of Galati
  • Catalina Iticescu Dunarea de Jos University of Galati
  • Lucian Puiu Georgescu Dunarea de Jos University of Galati
DOI: https://doi.org/10.35219/ann-ugal-math-phys-mec.2020.1.09
Keywords: heavy metals, surface sediments, Lower Danube River, preliminary statistical analysis

Abstract

Sediment quality is an important indicator in establishing the ecological status of aquatic ecosystems. Heavy metals are considered toxic and persistent substances that accumulate in the biotic and abiotic components of aquatic ecosystems, especially in sediments. This study presents research on the spatial distribution of 5 heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb) measured in the Lower Danube surface sediments on the adjacent segment of Tulcea County in the summer of 2019. Moreover, the statistical relationship between the heavy metals mentioned above was studied using preliminary statistical analysis methods, namely Pearson Correlation matrix and Cluster Analysis. Concentrations of the five heavy metals studied were determined using the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technique. The results of this study indicated the following falling trend of average heavy metal concentrations Cr>Zn>Ni>Cu>Pb. Positive correlations were found between Cu-Ni (r = 0,89), Zn-Ni (r = 0,80), Zn-Cu (r = 0,90), Pb-Ni (r = 0,88), Pb-Cu (r= 0,76), Pb-Zn (r = 0,82) pairs.

Published
2020-11-23
How to Cite
Calmuc, V. A., Călmuc, M., Arseni, M., Iticescu, C. and Georgescu, L. P. (2020) “Preliminary statistical relationship between heavy metals in Lower Danube sediments”, Analele Universității ”Dunărea de Jos” din Galați. Fascicula II, Matematică, fizică, mecanică teoretică / Annals of the ”Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati. Fascicle II, Mathematics, Physics, Theoretical Mechanics, 43(1), pp. 62-67. doi: https://doi.org/10.35219/ann-ugal-math-phys-mec.2020.1.09.
Issue
Vol 43 No 1 (2020)
Section
Articles

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