Analysis of Heavy Metals Contamination within the Sediment of Western Bug River, Ukraine

Abstract

Abstract. This research was conducted based on the estimation of anthropogenic heavy metals pollution occurrence within sediment of Western Bug River and its tributaries. The aims of this study were to determine the heavy metals concentration in Western Bug River sediment and its tributaries. The concentration of heavy metals was obtained by using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). For analytical data processing purposes, statistic descriptive and graph illustration of the data was done by using R program. The highest concentrations of most observed metals (Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were detected within Poltva region which highly influenced by the discharge from waste water treatment plant. While the elevation of Co and Ni contents were observed in agriculture region. Western Bug River especially Poltva region was clearly contaminated by anthropogenic pollution sources.

Keywords:  Western Bug River, heavy metals pollution, river sediment, ICP-MS, R program