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Discharge of hazardous substances (HSs) in hydrographic basins represent a danger to aquatic biological activity and water supplies and can severely pollute surface water sediments. The increase of pollution in the Danube Basin requires the implementation of systematic monitoring and evaluation of the sediments quality as dictated by the EU Water Framework Directive. For this system development, applicable in mountainous conditions, the Upper Tisa region in the northwest part of Romania on the border with Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia was selected as a test area. Sampling of overbank (floodplain) sediment, river bottom sediment and suspended sediment was carried out at 10 locations in the test area in order to analyze the concentration and distribution of eight metal(oid)s (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Ni, Cr and As), in addition to 3 organic components (anthracene, fluoranthene, benzo(e)pyrene) as hazardous substances (HSs). The sediment quality assessment was carried out according to the 2013/39/EU Directive and EU Water Framework Directive standards. Most of the analyzed HS concentrations in river bottom sediment and overbank (floodplain) sediments fall within the limits of environmental quality standards (EQS). As, Cu, Pb, and Zn tend to exceed the EQS at some locations. The highest exceedances were recorded for Pb, for which contents of up to 987 mg/kg were detected. The highest contents were found in the overbank sediments sampled, and the lowest in river bottom sediments, which may indicate historical pollution. Mercury contents in overbank sediment samples exceed all standards, while cadmium content is below the international standards. Anthracene, fluoranthene and benzo(e)pyrene concentrations in overbank and bottom sediments comply with international standards. A few samples in suspended sediments slightly exceed the lowest environmental standard value (i.e., Romanian normal value). HS concentrations remain low in the suspended sediments showing that it is not the main transport route for pollution in this area. HS contents decrease gradually from upstream to downstream due to dilution along the river course. In the last testing point at Someș Aciua, the concentration of metal(oid)s measured in the sediments remain below the EQS limit values, thus there is no risk of transboundary pollution. The main source of metal(oid) contamination is historic base-metal ore mining and the associated mine waste sites in the Baia Mare and other mining areas scattered around the whole region. The main source of the studied organic compounds is the incomplete or low-temperature coal combustion processes that occur in households in rural areas.

The EU Water Framework Directive requires the monitoring and evaluation of surface water sediment quality based on the assessment of risk posed by contamination on the biotic receptors. Fluvial sediments are important receptors of hazardous substances (HSs) pollution from the upstream catchment areas in the Danube River Basin (DRB). For the development of systematic sediment quality monitoring and evaluation, the Drava River region on the border of Hungary and Croatia was selected as a test area representative of lowland hydromorphological conditions. Overbank (floodplain) sediments and river bottom sediments (stream sediments) were sampled at two depths at 9 locations in the test area. Eight heavy metal(oid)s were analyzed As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, and Zn as hazardous substances. The sediment quality assessment was carried out according to the 2013/39/EU Directive and EU Water Framework Directive standards. Most of the analysed HS concentrations in river bottom sediment and overbank (floodplain) sediments fall within the limits of environmental quality standards (EQS). Results show that there is no significant differences in metal(oid) HS concentrations among the various sediment types and between shallow (0- 5cm) and deeper (stream sediment: 5-10cm ; floodplain sediment: 40-50cm) sediment which suggests that the large lowland Drava River fluvial system is an extensive single fluvial system with homogeneous distribution of sediments and the associated contaminants. Specifically, the studied sediments in the tributaries of the Drava River do not seem to be contaminated with metal(oid) hazardous substances but at certain sites concentrations are elevated above the environmental limit values, especially for As and Zn, and to lesser extent for Cr. The data analysis techniques used enabled the identification of sites with anthropogenic pollution and the recognition of regional pattern in HSs distribution.