Seasonal and spatial variability of metals concentrations in Lake Beyşehir, Turkey

• Published in: Environmental technology Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 345 - 353
• Main Authors: Nas, Bilgehan, Berktay, Ali, Aygun, Ahmet, Karabork, Hakan, Ekercin, Semih
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Aluminum - analysis; Applied sciences; Biological and physicochemical phenomena; Continental surface waters; drinking water; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh Water - chemistry; Global environmental pollution; Lake Beyşehir; metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Seasons; Spectrophotometry, Atomic; Turkey; water quality; Water treatment and pollution; watershed; Turkey; British Isles; Turkey, Anatolia, Beysehir L; Drinking water; Irrigation; Fresh water; Samplings; metals; Spatial variation; Lake Beysehir; Health and environment; Watershed; Surface water; Water quality; Lakes; Lead; Water pollution; Regulation; Sampling; Public health; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330902752984

Lake Beyşehir is the largest fresh water lake and also the largest reservoir for drinking, and irrigation water in Turkey. The lake has an area of 656 km 2 with an average depth of 5 m. Metal concentrations of aluminium (Al), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined in Lake Beyşehir on 9 June and 19 August 2005, and 12 June and 22 August 2006. The water samples were collected from 40 sampling stations. The aim of this research is to determine metal concentrations and their seasonal and spatial variability in the lake. Generally, metal concentrations of Lake Beyşehir were found to decrease in the sequence of Fe > Al > Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd as 92.8, 81.8, 7.4, 2.7, 2.2, 1.9, 1.7 and 0.5 µg L −1 , respectively. The results showed that the mean concentrations of the metals in the lake water did not exceed WHO (World Health Organization), US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) or TWQCR (Turkish Water Pollution and Control Regulations) drinking water guidelines. On the other hand, maximum levels of metals sporadically exceeded these standards in some sampling stations, especially for Al, Cr, Fe, and Pb.