Environmental Contamination of Heavy Metals in the Yaglidere Stream (Giresun), Southeastern Black Sea

AKKAN, TAMER/0000-0002-9866-4475WOS: 000391345600053This study was carried out to examine heavy metals concentration in water and sediment samples of Yaglidere Stream in Giresun, Turkey. Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb were determined by using ICP-MS. The surface water and sediment samples were collected monthly, from at 5 stations between June 2013 and May 2014. Descriptive statistical analysis including One-way ANOVA, significance (0.05) was done. Important differences in the mean values were tested with Duncan's multiple range test. Moreover, with the purpose for determining the level of pollution, the methods of the factor of sediment enrichment factor and the index of geoaccumulation were applied. Cu, Pb, Ni and Cd concentrations in water samples were very higher than RSWQM standards, Cu, Mn, Fe and Pb concentrations were higher than the EPA standards and also Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, Cu and Ni concentrations were higher than the WHO guidelines. The result of sediment enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index reveals that surface sediments of the Yaglidere Stream are unpolluted. Consequently, it can be concluded that the concentrations of heavy metals in water from Yaglidere Stream are generally higher than the RSWQM, WHO and EPA standards. It can be concluded that the heavy metal pollution level is high in Yaghdere Stream and it will be good to adopt protective measures before it's too late