STAGE-II

 In these experiments, the Perkin-Elmer Elan DRC-e ICP-MS instrument was used.

The analytical method was “Total Quant”; this is a software feature unique to the Elan ICP-MS systems for quantifying 81 elements in a sample by interpretation of the complete mass spectrum. Total Quant is an ideal tool for semiquantitative analysis during method development; it can also be used for a final material characterization. During the Total Quant analysis, each element is assigned a response value (cps/ppm) which is updated when a calibration is performed. Total Quant, being a semiquantitative program, gives quantitative results typically within ±25 % of the real value in simple matrices.

This study aims to investigate the quality of surface waters; they are taken from rivers/lakes that feed Cluj County (Lacul Beliş, Coada Lacului Tarniţa, Tarniţa, Someşul Cald, and Someşul Rece, also from the water treatment plant from Gilău) and Sălaj County (Vârşolt, Crasna). 

In all samples of water a large number of metals were identified; for the most elements identified the concentrations were relatively close, depending of the variability of local collection points. Light elements constituted the majority, with concentrations of the order of mg/l. The metals content for the waters of Cluj-Napoca was relatively constant: Na (11-27%), Mg (15-26%), K (3-7%), Ca (40-70%), predominantly Ca (5-10 mg/l). Ca was present mostly, in higher concentrations (20-40 mg/l) in waters from Salaj.

The study conducted on water samples taken from the same area, at different calendar periods showed that the warmer months the concentrations of Na, Mg were higher and in the cold months, higher concentrations of Ca, Ti, Fe, and Mn were observed. It appears that the water quality is influenced by the climatic conditions.

The sediments of the lakes are an excellent water quality control; they preserve important information of the environment and are recognized as a source of contaminants in aquatic systems, due to the local physicochemical conditions.

The comparative study- in terms of concentrations of metals in samples of sediment/soil/vegetation of the same raw water reservoirs limitrophe areas showed that light elements dominate in the order sediment>soil>vegetation, the soil is richer in Na and leaves in Mg and K. The sediments are richer in Fe, Mn, Co, Zn, and Ti while soils are richer in Al, Ba, and Si. The rare earth metals and toxic metals are more prevalent in sediment than in soil and leaves.

In all analyzed samples (water, sediment, soil) amounts of strontium were found in concentrations ranging from several dozens to several hundreds μg/l. These concentrations would allow the isotopic ratios determinations.