Risk assessment of copper contamination in soil and surface water in Topolnitsa river catchment

Victoria Kancheva, Nikolai Dinev, Nely Gadjalska

Abstract: The conservation of waters and soils in good ecological status is particularly important for the protection of the environment. The aim of the present study is to study the condition and the presence of the soils and waters in the Topolnitza River with heavy metals and metalloids. The river is segmented into three sections depending on its pollution: the first section is from the firth of Medetska River to the Topolnitsa Dam (copper (Cu) and manganese (Mn) pollution), the second section is from Topolnitsa Dam to the firth of Elshishka River (no established pollution), the third section - from the firth of Elshishka River to the firth of Topolnitsa River (manganese (Mn) contamination). With regard to soils, pollution of copper (Cu) has only been found in part of the first section. The highest risk of preserving and increasing soil pollution is the area of the Medetska River. In a section of the firth of Zlatishka River to the firth of Vozdol River, there is an increased risk of soil contamination. The actual soil contamination is above the Maximum Permissible Concentration (MPC), while the contingent risk of contamination is close but lower than the MPC. After the firth of Vozdol River,the available and potential soil contamination is greatly reduced.

Keywords: ecology; food safety; heavy metals; irrigation; mine; tailing pond

Date published: 2018-05-17