Assessment of Heavy Metal Content in Bottom Sediments and Macrophyte of the Belnianka River (Poland)

River waters and sediments are undoubtedly a source of various types of pollutants, both organic and inorganic. These can be of natural and anthropogenic origin. Heavy metals are among the most common pollutants. To accurately assess the state of water pollution, this article examined both river sediments and selected macrophytes – Acorus calamus L. and Sparganium erectum L. Em. Rchb. s.s. for the presence of HMs (Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn and Fe). The geochemical assessment of the sediments was performed using geoaccumulation index – I geo , enrichment factor – EF and total risk assessment – TRI. Studies have shown the presence of HMs in both sediments and plant parts. The bottom sediments of the Belnianka River contain HMs in varying concentrations, with Fe and Mn dominating. The analysis of the calculated I geo values shows that the bottom sediments are not contaminated with HMs – at all sampling points, the I geo value for the analysed HMs was less than zero. HMs were also detected in selected macrophytes. It turned out that macrophytes take up HMs mainly from the sediment via the roots, from where some of the metals are then transported to the aboveground parts. Metal accumulation in emergent macrophytes is usually lower in the aboveground parts than in plants with floating or submerged leaves. Therefore, some metals accumulate mainly in the roots due to the existence of a physiological barrier to transport to the stems and leaves, while other metals can be more easily transferred to the above-ground parts of the plant.