Heavy metals and natural radioactivity concentration in sediments of the Mediterranean Sea coast.

Heavy metal assessment and natural radioactivity determination in sediments of North Cyprus (Mediterranean coast) were carried out using different analysis methods. The average activity concentrations (range) of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K were found to be 20.1 (30.6-9.2) Bq kg-1dry weight, 18.4 (26.9-12.4) Bq kg-1dw, and 467.3 (619.9-147.6) Bq kg-1dw, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226Ra and 232Th in the sediment samples were less than the acceptable limits, whereas the average activity concentration of 40K in the sediment samples was higher than the worldwide average concentration. With regard to the studied heavy metals, the corresponding decreasing average concentration orders were found to be Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb. The heavy metal concentration values that were determined for sediment samples were compared with the values obtained in other studies. According to contamination indexes, the results (except for Cu in S-9) indicated no significant contaminated area.