Hydro-ecological monitoring of heavy metal pollution of water bodies in the Western Bug River basin within the mining-industrial region

Abstract

Purpose. This research aims to explore the peculiarities of chemical pollution with heavy metals of water in rivers and water bodies in the Chervonohrad mining-industrial region depending on the distance to the source of pollution and the type of landscape, as well as to analyze the general trends in the seasonal dynamics of chemical element concentration. Methods. The paper uses statistical processing of the chemical pollution parameters of water and soil, such as correlation analysis and Data Mining methods. The similarity of ecotopes and grouping of chemical elements is assessed using cluster analysis. Multidimensional spatial ordination of ecotopes is described using geochemical indicators and graphical visualization based on Principle Component Analysis. Findings. The highest level of pollution during the entire monitoring season was observed in water bodies at the foot of the Mezhyrichanska Mine waste heap near the city of Chervonohrad. Among the river bodies, the worst water condition in terms of heavy metal pollution was found in the Rata River (Silets village), which is located in the zone of influence of mining enterprises. The maximum excess of heavy metal content in water in seasonal dynamics in all sites is characterized by April variant of water samples. The analysis of the dependence between the concentrations of chemical elements indicates the presence of a close relationship between many parameters. Originality. For the first time, it has been found that the multidimensional ordination of water bodies on the axes of complex geochemical gradients of the environment reflects the seasonal dynamics of the pollution level of natural water bodies with heavy metals within the mining-industrial region. Practical implications. Based on the data obtained on the heavy metal content in water of natural water bodies, it is possible to predict the pollution level and implement measures to prevent the impact of negative factors on water quality. Knowing the geochemical conditions of ecotopes in a certain period of time, it is possible to determine their position in the ecological space on complex gradients of the medium, to predict the stability and possible changes in vegetation, fauna and microflora due to environmental pollution.