Interglacial Quaternary Sediments as Possible Natural Source of Anomalies of Harmful Chemical Elements in Lithuania

Abstract

Based on the geochemical results of interglacial Quaternary sediments in Lithuania obtained during implementation of the project “CIKLAS” the possibility appeared to study if these sediments can be a natural source of 10 potentially harmful chemical elements: As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, V, Zn. Total contents of Ni, Cu, Pb, Ba in all analysed samples were lower than maximum permissible concentrations MPC for soil, of Zn, V, Cr, Mn exceeded MPC values in not more than 4% of samples. The highest percentage of anomalous samples where MPC was exceeded was characteristic of Mo (21%) and As (12.6%) indicating that interglacial sediments enriched in organic matter comprise one of the possible natural sources of Mo and As anomalies in stream sediments of Lithuania.

Keywords

• Arsenic
• molybdenum
• interglacial Quaternary sediments
• natural sources