Heavy metal pollution in surface sediment and mussel samples in the Gulf of Gemlik

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 144; no. 1-3; pp. 169 - 178
• Main Authors: Ünlü, Selma, Topçuoğlu, Sayhan, Alpar, Bedri, Kırbaşoğlu, Çiğdem, Yılmaz, Yusuf Ziya
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.09.2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Bivalvia - chemistry; Bottom sediments; cadmium; chromium; Coasts; cobalt; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental quality; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Grain size; guidelines; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Humans; Industrial plants; Industrial Waste; industrialization; iron; Laboratories; Lead; manganese; Marine; Marine environment; Marmara Sea; Medical sciences; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mollusks; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; mussels; Mytilus galloprovincialis; nickel; Nuclear physics; Nuclear research; organizations; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution levels; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Pollution, environment geology; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; rivers; Salinity; sampling; Seawater - chemistry; Sediments; Sewer systems; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Statistical analysis; Studies; Tourism; Turkey; Turkey (country); Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; zinc; Marmara Sea; Turkey; Asia; Mediterranean Sea; Turkey (country); MED, Turkey; MED, Marmara Sea; Grain size; Bottom sediments; Pollution; Mussels; Heavy metals; Heavy metals, Bottom sediments; Grain size analysis; Marine sediments; Edible species; Mytilus galloprovincialis; Spatial variation; Grain size distribution; Coastal zone; Ingestion; Heavy metal; Marine environment; Trace element; Health and environment; Bivalvia; Risk assessment; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Biological accumulation; Mytilus galloprovincialis, Grain size; Public health; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-9986-6

Sediment quality data provide essential information for evaluating ambient environmental quality conditions. An evaluation is presented of heavy metal pollution, on the basis of statistical analysis of metal concentrations from the sediments of the Gulf of Gemlik, southeastern Marmara Sea, Turkey, which has been subject to high levels of pollution. The ranges for heavy metal concentrations (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) at the <63 μm grain size were higher when compared with those obtained from >63 μm fractions. Not only large industrialized seaports but also resort areas throughout the Gulf are flagged as hotspots for elevated concentrations, generally higher compared to those from the other Turkish marine environment. The highest concentrations of Cr, Pb and Ni were measured in the outer part of the Gulf, while the highest concentrations of Cu were documented offshore the main rivers. While the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Mn and Ni in some stations approach the severe effect level given in various sediment quality guidelines, the concentrations of the most human-related metals (Cd and Zn) in the mussels collected from the Port Mudanya were higher than the acceptable values for human consumption set by various healthy organizations.