Influence of Agriculture on Water Quality: Significance of Heavy Metals Monitoring
Agricultural activities directly infl uence the quality of water systems. Investigations showed that application of various agro-technical measures results with the pollution of water streams with heavy metals and other polluters. Increased concentrations of heavy metals result with intake of heavy metals and their transfer to food chains, and for that reason it is necessary to monitor the content of heavy metals regularly. Broad investigations of bio-geochemical cycling of heavy metals in the region of Lake Modrac were performed with combined methodology of determination of heavy metal traces with the estimation of bioavailability, based on the determination of complexing constants for Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn. Monitoring was performed at the locations in the vicinity of agricultural soil. Th e results achieved showed that the content of organic matter in water streams presents the key factor that determines the extent of bioavailability of heavy metal traces in water systems.