Emilia Smardz
Articles
Przegląd Geograficzny (2026) tom 98, zeszyt 2, pp. 205-225 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.2.4
Abstract
Lake tourism includes activities both within the lake itself and in its immediate surroundings. These activities may lead to a range of changes in lake ecosystems, including an increased input of pollutants. Among the most important and still widely studied pollutants are heavy metals (HMs), whose concentrations and potential toxicity were investigated in the waters and bottom sediments of two lakes of different origin near Gorzów Wielkopolski: the natural Kłodawskie Lake and the gravel pit lake Karnin Reservoir. HM concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ICP-QQQ-MS). The results obtained for HMs in water were analyzed in terms of potential toxic effects on humans, whereas HMs in bottom sediments were assessed in terms of their potential toxicity to aquatic biota. The results indicate comparable HM concentrations in the waters of both lakes and show no potential non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic health risk for humans, both in terms of chronic dermal exposure and quantitative assessment. In contrast, HM concentrations in bottom sediments differed significantly between the lakes, with notably higher values recorded in Kłodawskie Lake. The assessment of individual HMs using the modified hazard quotient (mHQ) indicated very low toxicity for Pb and Zn, and to a lesser extent for Cd, Cu, and Ni. Integrated indices indicated no potential combined toxicity of HMs. The presented study provides a basis for conducting similar analyses in lakes used for recreational purposes and highlights the potential of gravel pit lakes for tourism, particularly in regions characterized by a low number of natural lakes.
Keywords: gravel pit lake, cancer health risk, limnotourism, toxicity indices, suburban lakes.
[igosni@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[emisma@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[annsal3@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[marcin.siepak@amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
Citation
APA: Śniady, I., Smardz, E., Salwowska, A., & Siepak, M. (2026). Heavy metals toxicity assessment in water and bottom sediments of two tourist lakes of different origin near Gorzów Wielkopolski (western Poland). Przegląd Geograficzny, 98(2), 205-225. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.2.4
MLA: Śniady, Igor, et al. "Heavy metals toxicity assessment in water and bottom sediments of two tourist lakes of different origin near Gorzów Wielkopolski (western Poland)". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 98, no. 2, 2026, pp. 205-225. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.2.4
Chicago: Śniady, Igor, Smardz, Emilia, Salwowska, Anna, and Siepak, Marcin. "Heavy metals toxicity assessment in water and bottom sediments of two tourist lakes of different origin near Gorzów Wielkopolski (western Poland)". Przegląd Geograficzny 98, no. 2 (2026): 205-225. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.2.4
Harvard: Śniady, I., Smardz, E., Salwowska, A., & Siepak, M. 2026. "Heavy metals toxicity assessment in water and bottom sediments of two tourist lakes of different origin near Gorzów Wielkopolski (western Poland)". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 98, no. 2, pp. 205-225. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2026.2.4
Trace elements in Turkusowe Lake waters and bottom sediments (Wolin National Park, Poland
Przegląd Geograficzny (2024) tom 96, zeszyt 4, pp. 459-471 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.4.3
Abstract
Turkusowe Lake is a pit lake formed after the extraction of CaCO3, located within the Wolin National Park (northwestern Poland). The aim of the study was to assess the potential contamination of water and bottom sediments with trace elements (TE) in relation to previous research, which indicated the impact of anthropogenic pressure. To achieve this, basic physico-chemical parameters of the water (pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, oxygen content) were measured, and the concentrations of TEs (Ag, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, V, Zn) in water and bottom sediments. The potential contamination of water by trace elements was evaluated using the trace metal evaluation index (TMEI), while sediment contamination was assessed using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF). The results of the TMEI and Igeo did not indicate contamination, whereas the CF pointed to low, initial contamination of the bottom sediments by Ni and V. It has been demonstrated that the lower layer of the lake becomes contaminated by TEs more quickly, in contrast to the upper layer, which undergoes faster eutrophication. Turkusowe Lake continues to demonstrate significant resistance to TEs contamination due to its alkaline pH, but regular monitoring is recommended.
Keywords: pit lake, trace elements (TEs), contamination of water and sediments, anthropogenic pressure, pro- tected area, Wolin National Park
[igosni@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[werorz@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[emisma@st.amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
[marcin.siepak@amu.edu.pl], Adam Mickiewicz University, Faculty of Geographical and Geological Sciences
Citation
APA: Śniady, I., Orzechowska, W., Smardz, E., & Siepak, M. (2024). Trace elements in Turkusowe Lake waters and bottom sediments (Wolin National Park, Poland. Przegląd Geograficzny, 96(4), 459-471. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.4.3
MLA: Śniady, Igor, et al. "Trace elements in Turkusowe Lake waters and bottom sediments (Wolin National Park, Poland". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 96, no. 4, 2024, pp. 459-471. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.4.3
Chicago: Śniady, Igor, Orzechowska, Weronika, Smardz, Emilia, and Siepak, Marcin. "Trace elements in Turkusowe Lake waters and bottom sediments (Wolin National Park, Poland". Przegląd Geograficzny 96, no. 4 (2024): 459-471. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.4.3
Harvard: Śniady, I., Orzechowska, W., Smardz, E., & Siepak, M. 2024. "Trace elements in Turkusowe Lake waters and bottom sediments (Wolin National Park, Poland". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 96, no. 4, pp. 459-471. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2024.4.3