Combining Contamination Indices and Multivariate Statistical Analysis for Metal Pollution Evaluation during the Last Century in Lacustrine Sediments of Lacu Sărat Lake, Romania

Integrated study of both water and sediment in lakes provides important information regarding the human impact on the environment. The current work is focused on the correlation between age, source, composition, and degree of human intervention over the last 178 years and health impact of sediments from Lacu Sărat Lake (Romania), one of the most important balneo-climateric resorts in the country. The novelty relies on the fact that this is the first time the temporal patterns of metal contamination and the human health effects associated with the metal exposure from sediment core samples have been assessed. The sediment contamination status was determined by evaluating several indices, such as the enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index, metal pollution index, and potential ecological risk index, etc. Results showed a significant accumulation of Cd, Cr, As and Ni and a major contribution of Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Cr as well as Cu to the potential acute toxicity. The sediment quality guidelines emphasized a risk concerning the life and proper development of benthic organisms in Lacu Sărat Lake. Moreover, the incidental ingestion lifetime carcinogenic risk values for As and Cr suggest a potential risk of developing cancer. A strong human impact was observed especially between 1950 and 1990, which can be attributed to the rapid economic growth and intensive industrial development strategies pursued by the communist political regime in Romania.