TITLE:
An Ecological Assessment of the Pollution Status of the Danube River Basin in the Galati Region—Romania
AUTHORS:
Gideon A. Ajeagah, Cioroi Maria, Praisler Mirela, Oana Constantin, Mihaela Palela, Gabriela Bahrim
KEYWORDS:
Biological Pollution; Danube River Basin; Physico-Chemical Contamination
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Water Resource and Protection,
Vol.5 No.9,
September
30,
2013
ABSTRACT: Physico-chemical parameters and
bio-contamination assessment through protozoan cysts and helminths eggs were carried
out from the period of June to September 2010 in order
to appreciate the pollution of the Danube River Basin in Romania. It recorded a
higher tenor in Magnesium ion (60 mg/L) with respect to the calcium ion (20 mg/L). Other ions identified at substantial
proportions were iron (1.459 mg/L), manganese (6.583 mg/L), phenol
(12.780 mg/L) and Aluminium
(0.0441 mg/L). Twenty
one ciliated protozoa were identified in our analysis of water in the Danube River.
Prominent was the presence of Caenomorpha
medusula and Metopus ovatus which
are indicators of polysaprobity. Resistant forms of enteropathogenic protozoa
were present in our samples. These are Cryptosporidium sp (65 oocysts/l in August), Entamoeba
histolytica (22 cysts/L in September), Giardia sp with 30 cysts/L in August.
The helminths identified were Ascaris lumbricoides, Clornochis sinensis, Diphyllobothium latum, Enterobius vermicularis, Heterophrys heterophrys, larva of strongiloides stercoralis and Taenia sp. There is a low impact of natural
depollution mechanisms which can functionally reduce the impending effect of
the communicable diseases that are being transmitted by humans who constantly
explore this aquatic medium during their leisure or economic activities.