Heavy Metal Contamination Status and Risk Assessment in Surface Sediments of Köyceğiz Lagoon Estuary System (KLES) (South-West Anatolia)

This study reports the presence of heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Cd, Pb) in sediment and water column Köyceğiz Lagoon Estuary System (KLES) (South-West Anatolia). The mean metal concentrations (µg L-1) were found as Cr: 3.72-8.36, Ni: 6.51-9.48, Cu: 1.29-11.88, Cd: ND-0.08, Pb: ND-0.34. samples to be below internationally acceptable limits. (mg kg-1) 1.75-4.25, 5.24-12.69, 0.25-0.51, <0.01, 0.04-0.13. As a result analyses conducted concerning contamination factor (CF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load (PLI), monomial potential ecological risk (ER), total (RI) for sediment, it was deduced that there not any moderate or high risks.