Comparing the buffering ability of sediment samples along the upper part of Tisza River

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Article Title:	Comparing the buffering ability of sediment samples along the upper part of Tisza River
Authors:	Veronika Salacz*, Tibor Magyar, Peter Kereszturi, Gyula Lakatos
Affiliation:	University of Debrecen, Department of Applied Ecology, Debrecen, Hungary
Abstract:	Environmental pollution, urbanization and development of technologies have lead to the fact that in the last few decades’ emission of heavy metals has been multiplied. Their pernicious effects can be experienced globally at a highly increased rate which reduces quality of life all over the globe. In our research buffering ability of sediments derived from the upper part of the river Tisza, Hungary, was examined. Sediment samples were collected a few meters away from the river on the riverbank, and from the river basin around one meter away from the riverside. The sediments were treated with copper. Copper is an essential heavy metal, in small quantity it is an important element of several proteins, but in high quantities it has a toxic effect on plants as well as on animals. Copper, bound especially to organic matter, can be adsorbed rapidly to sediments thus it takes its toxic effects fast. The aim of our research was to assess the copper buffering ability of sediments of different origins. The buffering ability of sediment samples derived from the riverbank were compared at each site to the ones derived from the river basin. The average length of seedlings grown in sediment suspensions of different copper concentrations was also compared to average length of seedlings grown in sediment suspensions with distilled water. The used seed germination test was the Sinapis alba ecotoxicological test, which shows the rate of the pollution emerges due to the treatment. Relationships between concentration of organic matter and metal content of sediments were also studied. Results were evaluated statistically.
Keywords:	sediment copper, river Tisza, ecotoxicological testing, Sinapis alba
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*Correspondence:	Veronika Salacz, University of Debrecen, Department of Applied Ecology, 4032, Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1.