Upper Vistula River: response of aquatic communities to pollution and impoundment. III. Heavy metals in water

The following paper is one part of the complex studies and intends to provide the background for explaining the spatial differentiation of plant and animal communities settled in the Upper Vistula River. The study has been conducted from 10.9 to 336.7 km of the river course. Concentrations of the following heavy metals in the river water have been studied: copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, manganese and iron. These investigations indicated that lowest concentrations of heavy metals in the Vistula River corresponded to those found in clean waters while maximal ones in same cases, to their concentrations in heavily polluted water. Comparing the present content of heavy metals in the water of the Upper Vistula River with data gathered 25 years ago, a decrease in concentrations of these elements was found.