SEDIMENT QUALITY ASSESSMENT FROM BAIA MARE MINING AREA USING SPECIFIC QUALITY INDEXES.

Baia Mare is located in the north-west of Romania and is one of the most representative mining areas from this country. A total of 90 sediments samples were collected from 18 important points from Baia Mare town and surrounding areas during one year (December 2013, March 2014, June 2014, September 2014 and December 2014). The sampling points were chosen taking into account the possible pollution sources located in the study area. The samples were collected in polyethylene bags, using a clean stainless steel shovel and transported in laboratory. Using a portable multiparameter WTW INOLAB 320i for each sediment samples were determinated the physico-chemical parameters like pH, oxido-potential reduction, electrical conductivity and salinity. The heavy metals like manganese, iron, lead, cooper, cadmium, zinc, nickel and chromium were analzyed using an atomic absorption spectrometer ZEENIT 700. The heavy metals concentrations in analzyed sediment samples ranged between: 22.00 - 2575.00 mg/kg for Mn, 3372.00 - 57733.33 mg/kg for Fe, 29.52 - 8453.00 mg/kg for Zn, 5.30 - 318.00 mg/kg for Ni, 0.23 - 226.66 mg/kg for Cr, 11.46 - 12671.00 mg/kg for Pb, 0.10 - 63.66 mg/kg for Cd and 9.47 - 26824.27 mg/kg for Cu. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) was calculated for almost every heavy metal determined (exception Fe) and a highly sediment contamination was found in the case of Pb followed by Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Ni and Cr. By calculating the Pollution Load lndex (PLI) and Sediment Pollution Index (SPI) it may be concluded that the most contaminated sediment sample was collected from a pipe which is directly discharged in Sasar River, without any previously treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]