Heavy and toxic metals in water and sediments of the Vardar River in Skopje

Abstract

Ninety composite samples (45 samples of surface water and 45 samples of river sediments) werecollected from course of the Vardar river, in the urban part of the Skopje valley – City, in the period from 8. 3. 2013to 17. 5. 2013. Heavy metals concentrations (Аl, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, Zn),some non-metals (B, P), anions and more physico-chemical parameters of water and sediments in the Vardar river,during its course through the urban area, were studied in order to assess and discuss its pollution in Skopje and theorigin of this pollution. Besides water, river sediments, as reservoirs of most pollutants, were analyzed, using methodsof Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and Enrichment factor (EF).