Heavy metal pollution in sediments and mussels: assessment by using pollution indices and metallothionein levels

Oya S. Okay, Murat Ozmen, Abbas Güngördü, Atilla Yılmaz, Sevil D. Yakan, Burak Karacık, Bilge Tutak, Karl Werner Schramm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the present work, the concentration of eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) was determined in the sediments and transplanted and native mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The study was conducted in Turkish marinas, shipyards, and shipbreaking yards. The effect of metal pollution was evaluated by determining the levels of metallothionein (MT) in the mussels. The extent of contamination for each single metal was assessed by using the geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF). Whereas, to evaluate the overall metal pollution and effect, the pollution load index (PLI), modified contamination degree (mCd), potential toxicity response index (RI), mean effects range median (ERM) quotient (m-ERM-Q), and mean PEL quotient (m-PEL-Q) were calculated. The influence of different background values on the calculations was discussed. The results indicated a significant metal pollution caused by Cu, Pb, and Zn especially in shipyard and shipbreaking sites. Higher concentrations of MT were observed in the ship/breaking yard samples after the transplantation.

Original languageEnglish
Article number352
JournalEnvironmental Monitoring and Assessment
Volume188
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jun 2016

Keywords

  • Marinas
  • Metallothionein
  • Metals
  • Mussels
  • Sediments
  • Shipyards

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