Multicriteria to estimate the environmental risk of sediment from the Obedska Bog (Northern Serbia), a reservation area on UNESCO's list

The objective of this current study is to compare related sediment legislation standards and norms to the diversity and influence of anthropogenic and natural (geogenic) sources of pollution in the investigated fluvial relief test site region of the Obedska bog. All metals (nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and lead (Pb) except chromium (Cr)) and arsenic (As) have higher values than the Upper Continental Crust (UCC) for loess sediment. Several sharp leaps in the enrichment factor (r) suggested “indicators of anthropogenic metal pollution” for Cd, Cu (r > 5.0) and Zn, Ni (r > 1.0) for this region. In addition, the Chemical Proxy of Alteration (CPA, 60–95) from the unique Jadar block terrane and neighbouring representative catchment areas, confirmed moderate to higher intensity of alteration. Principal Component Analysis/Factor Analysis (PCA/FA) and cluster analysis suggest that Ni, Zn, Cu and Cd are derived from several anthropogenic sources, whereas As is convincingly of geogenic origin, and Pb and Cr exhibit dual origins. The sum of 16 U. S. Environmental Protection Agency Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (EPA PAHs) indicated heterogenic sources, but minor effects to biota. The results of the current investigation indicated intensive and highly diffuse sources of pollution in this United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO's] region. The outcomes indicate that Cu should be added to the European Union [EU] watch list of emerging contaminants.