pesd2025191001

	PRESENT ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Volume 20, Issue no.1/ 2026

	Title: Geochemical assessment of alluvial sediments from the Slanic river (Buzau county, Romania): pollution indices, ecological risk and petroleum origin indicators
	Authors : Ciprian CHELARIU 1, Alexandra-Gabriela HAGIU 1 and Ovidiu-Gabriel IANCU 1 1 Department of Geology, Faculty of Geography and Geology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Iasi, Romania E-mail : Corresponding author: ciprian.chelariu@uaic.ro
	https://doi.org/10.47743/pesd2026201021
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	Abstract This study evaluates the geochemical quality of alluvial sediments from the Slanic River (Buzau County, Romania) in the sector Manasia-Dogari, focusing on heavy-metal pollution indicators, ecological risk, and oil contamination. Nineteen sediment samples were analyzed by ME-MS41L (aqua regia digestion, ICP-MS). The local geochemical background was calculated using the iterative median method ± 2 MAD, and 16 pollution indices were computed. Results indicate good overall sediment quality: PLI = 0.968 (no significant pollution), RI = 65.863 (low ecological risk), and mCd = 0.836. Local PI > 1 was recorded for Cu (max 2.177), Mn (max 1.635), and Cd (max 1.428) in isolated samples. The V/Ni ratio (0.530-0.648, mean 0.570) confirms the absence of petroleum contamination. Sample SL-19 (downstream) shows the highest values for most indices. The study provides a baseline for future monitoring.

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