Assessment of contamination based on trace element concentrations in Gomphus flavipes (Odonata: Insect) larvae of the Upper Tisza Region.
Odonata larvae are frequently used to assess the contamination of aquatic systems, because they tolerate a wide range of chemical and biological conditions in freshwater systems. In early 2000, the sediments of the Hungarian section of the River Tisza and the River Szamos were strongly enriched with heavy metals by an accidental mining spill. Earlier studies demonstrated higher contamination levels in the Szamos than in the Tisza, based on sediment analysis. The aim of our study was to assess the contamination in the Upper Tisza Region, along the upper reach of the Tisza, and the lower reach of the Szamos, based on the trace element concentrations of the Gomphus flavipes larvae. We collected 269 dragonfly specimens for the analyses. The Al, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn element contents were analysed in the dragonfly larvae by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometry (MP-AES). Significantly higher Ba and Cu concentrations were found in the dragonfly larvae of the Tisza than the Szamos. In spite of this, the Cr, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn concentration was significantly lower in the dragonfly larvae of the Tisza than the Szamos. For all trace elements significant differences were found along the Tisza. Significant differences were also found in all trace element concentrations of dragonfly larvae among studied localities in the Szamos, except in the cases of Al and Ba. Our results demonstrated that the Szamos was more contaminated with Cr, Mn, Pb, Sr and Zn than the Tisza, but that the Tisza was more contaminated with Ba and Cu than the Szamos, based on the trace element concentrations in Gomphus flavipes larvae, which was likely to have been caused by the tributaries of the Tisza. In summary, our results indicated a continuous pollution of the Tisza and the Szamos and their tributaries.
Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary. Electronic address: edina.simon@gmail.com.
E
E
Simon
Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary.
O
O
Kis
Kossuth Lajos Secondary Grammar-School, Baross Gábor Street 36, Tiszafüred H-5350, Hungary.
T
T
Jakab
Ferenc Rákóczi II. Transcarpathian Hungarian Institute, István Fodor Research Institute, Kossuth Square 6, UA-90202 Beregovo, Ukraine.
I
I
Kolozsvári
BioAqua Pro LTD, Soó Rezső Street 21, Debrecen H-4032, Hungary.
K
K
Málnás
Department of Ecology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary.
S
S
Harangi
Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary.
E
E
Baranyai
Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary.
M
M
Miskolczi
MTA-DE Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Research Group, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4032, Hungary.
B
B
Tóthmérész
Department of Hydrobiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Egyetem sq. 1, H-4010, Hungary.
Gy
G
Dévai
D000818:Animals; D005618:Fresh Water; D006814:Hungary; D007814:Larva / Q000187:drug effects*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D063191:Odonata / Q000187:drug effects*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis*; D014455:Ukraine; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014131:Trace Elements; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D015032:Zinc
Dragonfly larvae; Environmental pollution; Gomphus flavipes (Linnaeus, 1758); MP-AES; River Szamos; River Tisza