Study of Volatile Organic Compounds in Emission from Bottom Sediments of Three Lakes with Impact of Anthropopression Using the Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Studies of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the bottom sediments of three Pomeranian lakes in Poland: Łazienkowskie, Rychnowskie, and Jeleń were conducted. All three lakes are subject to anthropogenic pressure but to varying degrees. In 2021, bottom sediment samples were taken from the lakes studied and an analysis of the emission of 20 volatile organic compounds was carried out using a proton transfer reaction mass spectrophotometer (PTR-MS). Concentrations in emissions from the bottom sediments of VOCs with the following mass–charge ratio (m/z) were analyzed: 57, 61, 63, 69, 75, 81, 83, 85, 87, 95, 97, 99, 101, 109, 111, 127, 129, 137, 149, and 157. The obtained data were analyzed by performing statistical tests and multivariate cluster and PCA analysis. The analysis shows that the lowest concentrations of VOCs were observed from bottom sediments in Lake Jeleń, which is subject to the lowest anthropopressure among the studied lakes. The analysis shows that the lowest concentrations of VOCs were observed from bottom sediments in Lake Jeleń, which is subject to lower anthropopressure among the studied lakes. With the help of cluster analysis, it was possible to collect data on the VOC concentrations into clusters, which resulted in demonstrating similarities between Łazienkowskie and Rychnowskie lakes—lakes connected by an isthmus, and the different characteristics of Lake Jeleń. PCA analysis leads to similar observations. The tested m/z VOCs can be identified using additional analytical methods.