Metal Pollution in Water, Mussel and Surface Sediments of the Western Black Sea Shelf, Turkey

Abstract

Water, mytilus and surface sediment samples from the Western Black Sea Shelf have been taken during August 2003 and June 2004 periods. Total metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr and Hg) contents have been investigated in these samples. Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr concentrations of the surface sediments have been found higher than the shale average. Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr values range from 10 and 56 mu g/g, 0.91 and 2.7 mu/g, 69 and 362 ng/g, and 61 and 110 mu g/g, respectively. The high total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolved hydrogen sulphure (DHS) contents of the surface sediments are support these results. While TOC values range from 1.11-4.11 %, DHS concentrations vary between 31.7 and 419 mu g/g in the surface sediments. In contrast, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni contents of surface sediments are lower than the shale average. The low metal values are harmonious with the previous study results. In these researches, it was seen that the Black Sea recent sediments was much poorer in therms of Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Ba and V according to deeper marine sediments. In contrast, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn contents of mytilus from the Western Black Sea Shelf are considerably higher than the critical limits set by the Turkish Ministry of Environment for Aquatic Products. Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn values vary between 2.9 and 6.4 mu g/g, <0.01 and 28 mu g/g, 1.97 and 7.5 mu g/g, and 115 and 234 mu g/g, respectively. The high values are indicate the anthropogenic (domestic + industrial) inputs via especially the Danube River. Besides, high Mn contents at stations TBK2 and TBK14 (867 and 1616 mu g/g, respectively) are point out the terrestrial manganese inputs originated from Binkihc mining zone in the Thrace Basin.