Comprehensive risk assessment of metals in surface sediments of the Southern Black Sea coastal and transition waters

• Published in: Regional studies in marine science Vol. 75; p. 103561
• Main Authors: Bat, Levent, Şahin, Fatih, Öztekin, Ayşah, Özsandıkçı, Uğur, Özkan, Ebru Yeşim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Black Sea; Contamination Degree; Contamination Factor; Enrichment Factor; Factor Analysis; Geo-accumulation Index; Pollution Load Index; Factor Analysis; Contamination Factor; Black Sea; Contamination Degree; Pollution Load Index; Enrichment Factor; Geo-accumulation Index
• ISSN: 2352-4855; 2352-4855
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103561

This study was carried out to determine metal levels accumulated in the sediments collected from the transitional and coastal waters of the southern Black Sea. Samples were taken from 32 stations in May and September 2018. The concentrations of elements were measured by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factor (Cf), and Modified Degree of Contamination (mCd) were applied to the data for assessing the sediment quality. Associations between the variables were also revealed by factor analysis. Igeo of metals are obtained in coastal sediments only when Hg in May and Cr in September are classified as moderately polluted. PLIs exceeded one at stations in the industrial zone, indicating getting worse. It is necessary to prevent pollution from industrial, domestic, and agricultural sources and to control agricultural lands. [Display omitted] •Metal levels were determined in the sediments from the transition and coastal waters of the southern Black Sea in May and September 2018.•Concentrations of elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb) were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS, Agilent 7700X).•Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factor (Cf), and Modified Degree of Contamination (mCd) were applied to the data for assessing the sediment quality.