P0riority pollutants present in the Tisza River Hydrographic Basin and their effects on living organisms

Abstract

Tisza River Basin is the largest sub-basin of the Danube Basin and home for 14 million people from five countries. It has a large diversity of landscapes and provides habitats for many animal and plant life species, has protected areas and national parks. Nevertheless, Tisza River has serious pollution problems, due to organic substances, nutrients, hazardous substances and hydromorphological alterations. The impacts of pollution are significant and affect human health. Endocrine disruptors are especially worrying, as they can interfere with the endocrine systems of living organisms, including humans. Among the “priority substances” were also included a series of heavy metals, which were introduced by the “Integrated Tisza River Basin Management Plan” on the list of priority pollutants. This article has the purpose to review the priority pollutants encountered in the Tisza River Basin. Their main effects on living organisms, including people, were discussed as well