Assessment of Heavy Metal Contribution and Associated Ecological Risk in the Coastal Zone Sediments of the Black Sea: Trabzon

Abstract

In this study, the natural and anthropogenic heavy metal (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Co) pollution in coastal sediments near the city Trabzon which exhibits an increasing population and industrial activity in the Southeastern Black Sea Region, were investigated spatially and temporally. The sediment along the coast of Trabzon is influenced by three rivers, Degirmendere, Yanbolu, and Solakli, resulting in a spatial separation. The highest heavy metal sediment concentrations were measured in the section influenced by Solakli and the lowest at the sites affected by Yanbolu. Furthermore, a strong temporal trend was observed displaying the highest metal concentrations in autumn. With the purpose for determining the level of pollution, the methods of the factor of sediment enrichment factor, the index of pollution load, the index of geoaccumulation and sediment quality guideline were applied. Three research areas were heavily polluted by Cu, Pb, and Zn. These metals concentration in Solakli coastal region were found significant enrichment. Current concentration of these metals would be expected to frequently be associated with toxic effects on biota of coastal regions.

Comprehensive Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Surface Sediments from the Inflow Rivers of Taihu Basin

“…Cu, Cr, Co, and Ni included in the first group may be attributed to similar sources. Most studies reported that Cu, Cr, Co, and Ni can be primarily from industrial and urban activities, such as electrical machinery, chemical production, automobile exhausts, and waste incineration . Co is also used in fertilizer and agrochemical industry .…”

“…I geo is calculated according to Eq. where C n is the examined metals concentration in sediment samples and B n is the geochemical background concentration of the heavy metals. I geo values were interpreted as suggested by Varol , where, I geo ≤ 0 indicates unpolluted; 0–1 is unpolluted to moderately polluted; 1–2 is moderately polluted; 2–3 is moderately to heavily polluted; 3–4 is heavily polluted; 4–5 is heavily to extremely polluted; and >5 is extremely polluted.…”

“…The geoaccumulation index (I geo ) and enrichment factors (EF) have been widely used to quantitatively evaluate the contamination states by comparing heavy metals concentrations in the sediment and their geochemical background concentrations [31][32][33][34][35][36]. The concentrations of heavy metals in the earth's crust [20,37] were chosen as the geochemical background values.…”

Pollution Assessment of Toxic Metals in Representative Limnetic Ecosystem Sediments in the Southeastern Black Sea, Turkey

“…RI considers both toxicities and total content of toxic metals but not chemical speciation. In addition, I GEO , SQGs, and sediment guidance values are indices commonly used to determine the pollution load in the sediment layer of the aquatic environment . Although determination, spatial distribution, and enrichment of toxic metals in lake systems have been extensively discussed, very few researchers have focused on risk assessment.…”

Spatio‐Temporal Variability and Pollution Assessment of Selected Metals in Freshwater Sediments, Pakistan

“…Lake sediments constitute a major part of aquatic reservoirs and play an important role in ecosystems. Heavy metals are absorbed and accumulated on surface sediments owing to their low solubility in the overlying water . These sediments may be considered as pollutant indicators as they can act as reservoir as well as carriers for the pollution in water bodies .…”