Original Articles
Tuncer Okan GenÃÂÃ
Abstract
The concentrations of six heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn and Ni) were measured in water and sediment of Sarıçay Stream in Turkey. The decreasing trend of metals were observed in water as Mn>Zn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Pb and in sediment as Mn>Zn>Ni>Cu>Cr>Pb. The level of studied metals not exceeded the safe limits of toxicity reference value for fresh water, indicated that water from this stream is safe for organism. The assessment of pollution load index (PLI) values of metals in sediment at all sites were ranged from 0.18 to 0.21 during winter and 1.43–1.80 during summer it is supporting that the sediment of the studied stream was not contaminated on winter but contaminated on summer. Furthermore, Igeo values for Mn (3.99) and Zn (3.18) during summer indicates heavily contaminated status. Enrichment ratio (ER) values for Cr, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni at all station were indicated no enrichment of these metals but ER values for Mn showed minor enrichment in all stations. The higher geoaccumulation factor (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI) and contamination factor (CF) values on summer indicated that Mn and Zn are the major contributors to the sediment pollution. Calculated values indices Sarıçay stream can be classified as unpolluted to moderately polluted stream environment.