Assessment of heavy metal contamination in Candarli Gulf sediment, Eastern Aegean Sea.

Concentrations of selected heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, Cr, Al, and As) in surface sediments from 18 stations in the Candarli Gulf were studied in order to understand current metal contamination due to urbanization and economic development in Candarli region, Turkey. The sediment samples were collected by box corer in Candarli Gulf in 2009 to assess heavy metal pollution. Heavy metal concentrations in surface sediment varied from 1.62% to 3.60% for Fe, 0.38-2.53% for Al, 173-1,423 for Mn, 8-100 for Ni, 3-46 for Cu, 55-119 for Zn, 16-138 for Pb, 0.2-6.3 for Hg, 16-71 for Cr, and 11-37 mg kg( -1) for As. This study showed that the concentrations of Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, Hg, and Cr in the surface sediment layers were elevated when compared with the subsurface layers. Both metal enrichment and contamination factors show that Hg, Zn, and Pb contamination exists in the entire study area and contamination of other metals is also present in some locations depending on the sources.