Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Wrocław, Wojciecha Cybulskiego 34, Wrocław, 50-205, Poland.
Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 28;10(1):18458. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-74403-3.
Contamination of water and sediments with arsenic and heavy metals is a global issue affecting human health. Regions covered with Quaternary deposits have received little attention from the point of view of the flux of arsenic and heavy metals from sediments to surface water. This study aims to determine the flux of arsenic and other heavy metals from Quaternary sediments to surface waters in an area affected by the former Złoty Stok gold and arsenic mine. Contamination in surface waters and sediments was caused by arsenic, whereas concentrations of metals were usually within water quality standards. Arsenic contamination of surface water increased in the lower part of the basin covered by Quaternary sediments, and exceeded water quality standards by 2 orders of magnitude. Arsenic mass flux exceeded 8 kg/day near the confluence of the Trująca River with the Nysa Kłodzka, a main tributary of the Oder River. An increase in arsenic concentration in the lower part of the basin is related to mine tailings and preferential flow of groundwater through Quaternary sediments. In future, water resources scarcity may lead to an increase in arsenic contamination in surface and groundwater.
砷和重金属对水和沉积物的污染是一个全球性问题，影响着人类健康。从沉积物向地表水输送砷和重金属通量的角度来看，覆盖着第四纪沉积物的地区很少受到关注。本研究旨在确定受前 Złoty Stok 金矿和砷矿影响的地区，从第四纪沉积物向地表水输送砷和其他重金属的通量。地表水和沉积物中的污染是由砷引起的，而金属的浓度通常在水质标准范围内。受第四纪沉积物覆盖的盆地下游，地表水的砷污染加剧，超过了水质标准 2 个数量级。在特鲁贾瓦河与奥得河的主要支流内尔斯卡-克洛茨卡河的交汇处附近，砷的质量通量超过了 8 千克/天。盆地下游砷浓度的增加与尾矿和地下水通过第四纪沉积物的优先流动有关。未来，水资源短缺可能会导致地表水和地下水中砷污染的增加。
