Geochemical Responses to Natural and Anthropogenic Settings in Salt Lakes Sediments from North-Eastern Romanian Plain

Radu Lucian Olteanu (), Cristiana Radulescu (), Petre Bretcan, Inga Zinicovscaia, Otilia Culicov, Konstantin Vergel, Danut Tanislav, Marius Bumbac, Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu, Ioana Daniela Dulama () and Laura Monica Gorghiu
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Radu Lucian Olteanu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Cristiana Radulescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Petre Bretcan: Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130105 Targoviste, Romania
Inga Zinicovscaia: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia
Otilia Culicov: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia
Konstantin Vergel: Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, 141980 Dubna, Russia
Danut Tanislav: Faculty of Humanities, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130105 Targoviste, Romania
Marius Bumbac: Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Cristina Mihaela Nicolescu: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Ioana Daniela Dulama: Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Science and Technology, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania
Laura Monica Gorghiu: Faculty of Sciences and Arts, Valahia University of Targoviste, 130004 Targoviste, Romania

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 2, 1-48

Abstract: Chemical analysis was performed on sediment core samples collected from three salt lakes, Amara Lake, Caineni Lake, and Movila Miresii Lake, located in the northeast of the Romanian Plain. The concentration of 10 main elements, 6 heavy metals (HMs), 8 rare earth elements (REEs), and 10 trace elements (TEs)—determined using neutron activation analysis (NAA)—showed variability dependent on the depth sections, lake genesis and geochemical characteristics (oxbow, fluvial harbor/liman and loess saucer type). The assessment of pollution indices (contamination factor, pollution load index, geoaccumulation index, and enrichment factor) highlighted low and moderate degrees of contamination for most of the investigated elements. Principal component analysis (PCA) extracted three principal components, explaining 70.33% (Amara Lake), 79.92% (Caineni Lake), and 71.42% (Movila Miresii Lake) of the observed variability. The principal components extracted were assigned to pedological contribution (37.42%—Amara Lake, 55.88%—Caineni Lake, and 15.31%—Movila Miresii Lake), salts depositions (due to the lack of a constant supply of freshwater and through evaporation during dry periods), atmospheric deposition (19.19%—Amara Lake, 13.80%—Caineni Lake, and 10.80%—Movila Miresii Lake), leaching from soil surface/denudation, rock weathering, and mixed anthropogenic input (e.g., agricultural runoff, wastewater discharges) (13.72%—Amara Lake, 10.24%—Caineni Lake, and 45.31%—Movila Miresii Lake).

Keywords: salt lake; sediment; NAA; statistical analysis; contamination factor; pollution load index; index of geoaccumulation; enrichment factor (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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