SURFACE WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING ELECTROANALYTICAL METHODS AND INDUCTIVELY COUPLED PLASMA MASS SPECTROMETRY (ICP-MS)

Heavy metals can reach into surface water mainly as a result of domestic and industrial activities. Copper, zinc, manganese, iron, etc. are just a few examples of heavy metals that are naturally present in soil and water, some are considered indispensable for life but, in high concentrations may become toxic. If external factors (domestic and industrial activities) interfere with the environment, the level of heavy metals naturally contained in the surface water is also affected and thus its toxicity increases. However, in low concentrations, some elements like cadmium, mercury, lead, nickel, and chromium are considered also toxic and therefore are included in a different category of heavy metals. In this respect, the present inquiry aims to provide a surface water-quality data set by using consistent sampling methods and analysis, correlated with statistical results. The present research topic aimed to assess the degree of pollution (and implicitly the surface water quality) of the Ialomita River during October-November 2021, depending on the variation of climatic parameters, and the impact of anthropogenic and industrial activity in the studied area. In this regard, 16 water samples were collected in the above-mentioned time interval, which were subsequently investigated using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), for the assessment of the content of heavy metals, as well as measuring equipment for determination of indicators such as: pH, resistivity, total dissolved solid, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, total and free chlorine, turbidity. The average concentrations of heavy metals were correlated with physicochemical indicators. The ultimate goal of the research is to create a bridge by comparison with the results obtained in a similar study, conducted in the period 2015-2016. The results indicate that the occurrence of metals in high concentrations may pose a detrimental health risk to the exposed population. In addition, these results can be relevant for the improvement of integrated management measures for the river's surface water at the national level to attain the goals provided in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.