Metal Pollution Assessment in Sediments of the Southeastern Black Sea Coast of Turkey

Abstract

The main objective of this investigation is to determine the concentration and accumulation of heavy metals in the coastal sediments of the Southeastern Black Sea of Turkey. The selected sampling area has mainly been affected by anthropogenic activities, such as agricultural, untreated domestic and treated industrial waste water and mining. Metal enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I geo ) and metal pollution index (MPI) have been calculated and relative contamination levels evaluated at all stations. In this study, the maximum EF values calculated for nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) were 1.4, 3.1, 5.2, 7.8, 7.8, 20, 26 and 42, respectively. Metal pollution has decreased in recent years but the enrichment of heavy metals has been observed to be relatively high, especially in the uppermost 3-6 cm of the core sample from the Sürmene sampling station, which has been polluted by mining activities. In addition, factor analysis revealed that the coastal sediments from the Eastern Black Sea were influenced by several sources namely; lithogenic and anthropogenic activities (mining, wastewater discharging, agriculture).

Determination of Metal Concentrations in Değirmendere Stream Drainage Area of Southeastern Black Sea Coast of Turkey

“…This order was found by Alkan et al (2015) on the Eastern Black Sea coastal sediments as Mn> Zn> Cu> Pb> Cr> Ni> Co> As> Cd. Although the results obtained are similar, the average Ni, Cr, Cu and Zn values determined in this study are relatively higher than the background values determined byAlkan et al 2015…”

“…Although the concentration of many metals containing abundant elements in the Earth's crust was relatively higher at station 1 near the river input, it is interesting to note that anthropogenic/industrial origin metals such as Cd, Pb and Zn were higher in station 2, which is located in the harbor. [13].…”

“…In a study conducted by Özşeker et al, 2014, it was stated that the spatial and temporal distributions of the metal concentrations of the region were caused by the increase in the clay content in the sediment layer carried and deposited by rivers [15]. Although the Southeastern Black Sea is not a region containing large amounts of industrial waste, the presence of natural ore beds and abundance of river resources and the discharge of untreated urban effluents contribute to pollution [13]. Erosion due to river transport in the region can also be considered to be the most important source of natural and anthropogenic metal input [15].…”

Spatial and temporal variation in the distribution and abundance of pelagic fish eggs and larvae off Giresun, south-eastern Black Sea, Turkey

“…Apart from being a food competitor for fish, its direct predation on fish eggs and larvae represent a threat to fish stocks (Hamer et al 2010). The Black Sea is also subject to discharge of municipal, industrial, and agricultural waste from increased urbanization (Topcuoğlu et al 2003, Alkan et al 2015. Influences on water quality, resulting from these human activities, are also likely to affect the composition, distribution, and abundance of ichthyoplankton in the Black Sea (Satilmis et al 2003), with subsequent effects on fish production.…”

Ecological Risk Assesment and Seasonal-Spatial Distribution of Trace Elements in the Surface Sediment of Trabzon Harbour, Turkey

“…Although there are limited number of studies regarding heavy metal concentrations in the sediment of the Black Sea coastline [14] [15] [16] [17], to date there has been no research revealing the anthropogenic effects of metals and the environmental risk associated with their concentrations at Trabzon Harbour. The objectives of this research paper were to make the first records of: (1) the seasonal and spatial concentrations of the metals iron (Fe), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn) and nickel (Ni) in the surface sediments of Trabzon Harbour; (2) the seasonal and spatial concentrations of the total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC) with clay, sand and silt contents of the surface sediment; (3) the correlation between heavy metals and surface sediment chemical parameters; and (4) the environmental risk associated with the metal contents of the sediments using available SQGs.…”