Title: Heavy metal contamination in water and sediments of an estuary in southeastern Turkey

Authors: Z. Demirel, K. Kulege

Addresses: Geological Department, Mersin University, Turkey. ' General Directorates of Mineral Research and Exploration of Turkey, Ankara, Turkey.

Abstract: The geochemical characteristics of some heavy metals (Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni) in the river and sea sediments, in the soil and in the river and groundwater of an estuary on the southeast coast of Turkey have been studied. In the sea sediments, the wastes from a chromium factory control these metal concentrations. The heavy metal contamination in the river sediments results from an existing chromite mine at the northern part of the area. These heavy metals are concentrated in the soil, but they do not penetrate into the groundwater because of the low permeability of the unsaturated zone in the region.

Keywords: estuaries; geochemistry; heavy metal contamination; Turkey; heavy metals; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005123

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.21 No.5, pp.499 - 510

Published online: 03 Sep 2004 *

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