Impact of Arieş River Contaminants on Algae and Plants
Adela Halmagyi,
Anca Butiuc-Keul,
Martin Keul,
Cristina Dobrotă,
László Fodorpataki,
Adela Pintea,
Aurel Mocan,
Valeria Pop,
Ana Coste
Affiliations
Adela Halmagyi
Department of Experimental Biology, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Branch Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, 48 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Anca Butiuc-Keul
Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogălniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Martin Keul
Department of Experimental Biology, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Branch Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, 48 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cristina Dobrotă
Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogălniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
László Fodorpataki
Department of Horticulture, Sapientia University, 2 Sighișoarei Rd., 540485 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Adela Pintea
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, Calea Mănăstur 3-5, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Aurel Mocan
Institute of Public Health Prof. Dr. I. Moldovan, 6 Louis Pasteur Street, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Valeria Pop
Doctoral School “Environmental Science”, Babeș-Bolyai University, 1 M. Kogălniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Ana Coste
Department of Experimental Biology, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Branch Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, 48 Republicii Street, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The Arieş River (Western Romania) represents one of the most important affluents of the Mureş River, with great significance in the Mureş Tisza basin. The environmental quality of the Arieş basin is significantly affected by both historic mining activities and contemporary impacts. Thus, an evaluation of the effects of the main contaminants found in water (organochlorine pesticides—OCPs, monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—MAHs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons—PAHs, and metals) on cyanobacteria and plants was performed. Among OCPs, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and derivatives were detected in plants while admissible concentrations were detected in water. Among MAHs, high levels of benzene were detected both in water and in plants. The levels of PAHs exceeded the allowable values in all samples. Increased concentrations of metals in water were found only at Baia de Arieş, but in plants, all metal concentrations were high. The pH, nitrates, nitrites, and phosphates, as well as metals, pesticides, and aromatic hydrocarbons, influenced the physiological characteristics of algae, test plants, and aquatic plants exposed to various compounds dissolved in water. Considering that the Arieş River basin is the site of intense past mining activities, these data provide information about the impact on water quality as a consequence of pollution events.
