Heavy Metal Contamination and Potential Ecological Risk Assessment in Sediments of Lake Bafa (Turkey)

This study examined the spatio-temporality of heavy metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in sediments Lake Bafa, one most important wetlands Turkey’s Aegean region. The evaluated sediment quality according to threshold effect concentration (TEC) probable (PEC) values based on guidelines (SQG), provided a potential ecological risk assessment (PERI) along with indices such as geoaccumulation index (NIgeo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination (CF), pollution load (PLI). For this purpose, surface from 10 different points core samples three were seasonally collected nine metals determined by ICP-MS. findings indicated following accumulation order sediment: Fe > Al Mn Ni Cr Zn Co Al, being high samples. According NIgeo, very slightly polluted at stations, while five stations Cd. Regarding EF, lake was terms accumulation. CF results that under pressure pollution. PLI significant hazard all PERI analysis moderate some stations. As comprehensive studies applying are evaluating lake’s sustainability.