Contamination and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments of dobczyce reservoir and its tributaries – A literature review

Most transported particles released from a catchment area are deposited and accumulated in the sediment layers of water reservoirs. Along with mineral particles, contaminants originating from human activity and natural processes are added to such aquatic systems (e.g., heavy metals). This is an especially important issue when a reservoir is being used as a source of drinking water. The main aim of this study was the environmental risk assessment of the sediment in the Dobczyce Reservoir and two of its tributaries (the Raba River and Wolni-ca Stream) during the years of 2004–2007 and 2016, 2017. Substantial variations in heavy metals were found due to the land use and catchment management. The potential ecological risk showed an uneven distribution, and the overall ecological risk level ranged from low to moderate.