CALCULATION OF SEDIMENT POLLUTION INDICES USING DIFFERENT GEOCHEMICAL BACKGROUNDS AND ASSESSMENT OF METAL CONTAMINATION IN HAVŞA (KOÇALİ-ADIYAMAN) AND İNCI STREAM SEDIMENTS (GULEMAN- ELAZIĞ)

Abstract

Total concentrations of some trace elements and Fe in stream sediments sourced from two different types of mineralization close to villages are assessed with the aid of pollution indices using both regional and average ultramafic rock compositions as background values in this study. The first pollution index, contamination factors (CF), geo-accumulation (Igeo) and metal enrichment (EF) values were calculated according to the average metal concentration/background in regional unmineralized bedrock. Then the second pollution index (CF*, Igeo*, EF*) was calculated using the average concentration for ultramafic rocks in the earth's crust/background. The results show that the calculated CF*, EF* and Igeo* values for Ag, Mo, As, Pb, U, Th and Sr values are higher than the calculated CF, EF and Igeo values in the Havsa Stream sediments. The pollution indices in the Inci Stream sediments indicate that CF*, EF*and Igeo* values for Mo, Cu, Pb, Ni, As, Ba Cr, Mn and Rb values are higher than the calculated CF, EF and Igeo values. The pollution indices indicate high level of contamination, severe enrichment and heavy to extreme pollution in Havsa Stream sediments due to the lithological units/natural influences. The Inci Stream sediments have both natural and anthropogenic effects due to chromite mining and a chrome ore enrichment plant in Guleman. Because of the heavy metal and As pollution, the studied regions should be evaluated in further multi-disciplinary studies to determine the relationships between human health and geochemistry .