Distribution of Heavy Metals (Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and As) in Overbank Sediments of Ibar Tributaries (in Serbia)
Abstract The Ibar River is an international river whose watercourse passes next to numerous technogenic landfills and chemical-industrial complexes. They can affect the quality of water in the river, as well as the quality of overbank sediments. The river flows into the West Morava River near Kraljevo and it represents its largest tributary. The analysis of the overbank sediments of Ibar tributaries showed high concentration of heavy metals at some points. The statistical analysis of the content determined the existence of two synthetic factors around which heavy metals were concentrated. The comparison of the chemical composition of overbank sediment with the composition of geological and pedological substratum on which they were developed showed that the increased concentrations of heavy metals were mostly a product of geological and pedological composition of the river’s substratum and basin, and had no connection with (possible) anthropogenic factors. However, due to the sensitivity and proximity of potential pollutants, the necessity to constantly monitor chemical composition of overbank sediments in the river basin was determined.