This study is focused on water quality of Melen River (Turkey) and evaluation of 26 physical and chemical pollution data obtained five monitoring stations during the period [1995][1996][1997][1998][1999][2000][2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006]. It presents the application of multivariate statistical methods to the data set, namely, principal component and factor analysis (PCA/FA), multiple regression analysis (MRA) and discriminant analysis (DA). The PCA/FA was employed to evaluate the high-low flow periods correlations of water quality parameters, while the principal factor analysis technique was used to extract the parameters that are most important in assessing high-low flow periods variations of river water quality. Latent factors were identified as responsible for data structure explaining 72-97% of the total variance of the each data sets. PCA/FA was supported with multiple regression analysis to determine the most important parameter in each factor. It examines the relation between a single dependent variable and a set of independent variables to best represent the relation in the each factor. Obtained important parameters provided us to determine the major pollution sources in Melen River Basin. So factors are conditionally named soil structure and erosion, domestic, municipal and industrial effluents, agricultural activities (fertilizer, irrigation water and livestock wastes), atmospheric deposition and seasonal effects factors. DA applied the data set to obtain the parameters responsible for temporal and spatial variations. Assessment of high-low flow period changes in surface water quality is an important aspect for evaluating temporal and spatial variations of river pollution. The aim of this study is illustration the usefulness of multivariate statistical analysis for evaluation of complex data sets, in Melen River water quality assessment identification of factors and pollution sources, for effective water quality management determination the spatial and temporal variations in water quality.
Determination of metal risk levels in potable water and their effects on human health are vital in assessment of water resources. Risk assessment of metals to human health in a watershed, which has not been studied before, is the main objective of the present study. Surface and groundwater sampling was carried out between September 2010 and August 2011 in the Melen Watershed, Turkey, an important drinking water resource for millions of people. Metals were analyzed in the laboratory using inductively coupled plasma. Of the 26 different metals monitored, Al, B, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo and V were found in surface water and As, B, Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, V and Zn in groundwater. In groundwater, unitless hazard quotient (HQ) values were 6 for As, 2.7 for Mn and 1 for Zn, while in surface water all metals were below the risk level (HQ < 1). The ingestion risk was found to be higher than the dermal uptake risk. Arsenic mean concentration was observed to be 0.044 mg/L in groundwater. The As carcinogenic risk (CR) value was higher than the internationally accepted risk level (10(-4)) and with maximum ingestion of groundwater the carcinogenic risk was found to be higher in adults than children. These results show that even unpolluted watersheds can pose a risk to human health and that potential carcinogenic impacts should receive more attention.
Effective groundwater monitoring and status assessment is vital in the management and protection of groundwater systems according to e.g., the European Groundwater Directive. This study determined metal concentrations in groundwater in the Melen watershed close to Istanbul and assessed land use effects on groundwater status. In the monitoring period (2010)(2011), elevated metal concentrations were observed in regions close to industrial zones and seasonally in agricultural fields. The highest values of metals (As, Mn, Zn, V, Cu, Na and Ba) concentrations were found in autumn and winter, when groundwater recharge occurs. Detectable levels of dissolved metals, such as Cr and Cd, were only found close to industrial zones. The aquifer can be considered to be in good qualitative status regarding some metals. However, As, Mn and Zn are present in concentrations higher than approved by international standards and pose a risk to human health. Therefore, measures to prevent metal contamination close to potential sources and good watershed management are needed.
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