An assessment of metal contamination in the shelf sediments at the southern exit of Bosphorus Strait, Turkey

Abstract

Concentrations and areal distribution of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were determined in the surficial sea bottom sediments along the coastal areas of Istanbul at the southern exit of the Bosphorus Strait, stanbul, Turkey. The pollution status of shelf sediments was evaluated by employing pollution indicators (enrichment factors, geo-accumulation, and ecological risk indexes) and sediment quality guidelines (threshold effect level/probable effect level, effect range median (ERM)/effect range low). The results demonstrated that Cd, Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb were enriched minor to moderate. The net sediment transport patterns show terrestrial inputs in front of the short streams. Another polluted region is at the western margin of the southern Bosphorus exit, where sediment transport is mainly controlled by the secondary currents driven by the Bosphorus jet, and depending on a sand ridge extending offshore. Based on the sediment quality guidelines, Cu, Pb, As, and Cr were likely the most dangerous chemicals to pose environmental risk, and may show toxic biological results. The areal distribution of ecotoxicological index (m-ERM-Q) suggested that 20% of the sediment sample sites fall in the medium-high priority zone and scattered at some specific areas along the coast.