Element Contamination and Probable Ecological Concern in Surface Sediments of the Black Sea’s Iğneada Coasts

Abstract

Enrichments of metals in surface sediments from Iğneada shores of the Black Sea were analysed to define the level of contamination in the region. For this purposes, Cd, Hg, Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, Mn, Al and Fe levels in surface sediments were studied from 6 stations. Sediment samples were collected using a Van Veen grab. Elemental analyses in sediments were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The concentrations of metals varied from 0.031 to 0.091 for Cd; 0.025 to 0.064 for Hg; 3.32 to 7.88 for Pb; 5.75 to 13.42 for Cu; 25.63 to 40.07 for Cr; 14.8 to 28.2 for Ni; 18.29 to 33.21 for Zn; 268 to 377 for Mn; 10,987 to 17,101 for Al; and 11,521 to 20,700 mg·kg₋1 for Fe mg·kg₋1 dry wt. Metal levels were found to be much lower than recommended levels when compared to Sediment Quality Criteria for surface sediments. Enrichment Factors (EF), Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) were applied to the data for assessing the sediment quality. EF values were nearly between 0.33 and 2.4. Mostly EF for metals were less than 2, may be come from natural weathering processes or crustal substances, indicate no enrichment. However, some results of EF values slightly exceeding 2 indicate moderate enrichment. These rates aren’t thought to be important. Igeo values for all metals were less than 0 at all stations, suggesting that the Iğneada shores was uncontaminated by these studied metals. PLI values ranged from 0.410 in station I to 0.747 in station IV, indicating that Iğneada shores in the Black Sea were less impacted by these metals. PLI value for zone was found as 0.553665002. The Igeo and PLI values also suggest that surface sediments in Iğneada shores of the Black Sea is uncontaminated. 
 HIGHLIGHTS
 
 Metal enrichments in surface sediments from the Black Sea coasts of İğneada were studied to determine the level of contamination in the area
 EF values less than or equal to 2 indicate that there is no contamination, and that the concentration is within the natural background prediction range. Only the EF values for Cr and Ni were between 2 and 5, indicating moderate enrichment
 The Igeo analyses revealed that the İğneada shores sediments were unpolluted for all studied metal levels at all stations
 All PLI values in the stations were between 0 and 1, indicating that İğneada shores were less impacted by these metals
 
 GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT