Determination of Metal(loid)s in Mavi Dam Lake Sediment (Ankara) and Evaluation of Health Risks Level

Abstract

Metalloids pose major threats to wetlands. It is of great importance to investigate the sediments where metal(loid)s accumulates the most in wetlands. This study revealed the current metal(loid) status of the Mavi Dam Lake, which is one of the important wetlands for Ankara, established the accumulation relations between metal(loid)s separately, and seek an answer to the question of whether the current metal(loid)s status poses a risk of public health. The amounts of 13 metal(loid)s were determined. Sediment quality guidelines were calculated to understand the ecological risk of metal(loid)s in the sediment and the results were compared with limit values. It was determined that Ni constitutes 51.28% of the total toxic effects of metals detected in the sediment. Ni and Cr revealed a strong correlation between cluster and correlation analyses and were involved in the same factor in the principal component analysis. Additionally, it was determined that As, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni may pose carcinogenic risks in terms of public health by contact with the lake or ingestion. In conclusion, it was revealed that the lake being studied should be regularly monitored for all metal(loid)s, especially Ni, and Cr.