title: Heavy metal concentrations in surficial and core sediments from Izmir Bay: an assessment of contamination and comparison against sediment quality benchmarks.
abstract: The levels of heavy metals were determined in surface and core sediments from the Izmir Bay in 2009. The highest concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were found in the inner bay due to industrial activities. In contrast, maximum levels of Mn, Co, Fe and Al were observed in the outer bay, due to geochemical structure. Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, Cr and Co levels in the upper layer of core sediments were higher than the mean background values of bottom sediments. The enrichment of Cr, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cu and As in the bay seems to be driven by anthropogenic sources. It was found that the sediments in Izmir Inner Bay were generally polluted heavily with Cu, As, Ni, Cr, Pb and moderately with Zn according to the numerical Sediment quality guidelines of the USEPA.
authors: Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, Dokuz Eylul University, Inciralti, 35340 Balçova-Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Muge
authors: M
authors: Atalar
authors: Filiz
authors: F
authors: Kucuksezgin
authors: Muhammet
authors: M
authors: Duman
authors: L Tolga
authors: LT
authors: Gonul
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis*; D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D061006:Bays / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012621:Seasons; D014421:Turkey; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000535:Aluminum; D001151:Arsenic