Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reconstruction of temporal variations of metal concentrations using radiochronology (239+240Pu and 137Cs) in sediments from Kizilirmak River, Turkey

Journal of Paleolimnology volume 65, pages 137–149 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Sediment cores retrieved from rivers, lakes, and coastal marine environment have been widely utilized to reconstruct historical variations of anthropogenic pollutants. A sediment core was collected in the Kizilirmak River, Turkey during 2014 and analyzed for a suite of metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Ni, Co, Mn, As, Cd, Sb, V, Cr, Hg and Se) to reconstruct their temporal variations. Chronology was attempted using excess 210Pb (210Pbxs), 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the sediment cores. The vertical profile of excess 210Pb indicates that this core is not datable using excess 210Pb method. The 137Cs-based linear and mass apparent accumulation rates were estimated to be 0.84 cm year−1 and 0.93 g cm−2 year−1, respectively. These values are in agreement with the 239+240Pu peak-based linear (0.88 cm year−1) and mass apparent accumulation (0.97 g cm−2 year−1) rates. There is considerable broadening in the peaks of both 137Cs and 239,240Pu, likely due to post-depositional mixing processes. The measured sediment inventories of 210Pbxs, 137Cs and 239+240Pu were 38, 29, and 0.42 dpm cm−2, respectively, which were generally higher than the expected inventories based on local atmospheric depositional inventories. We attribute these enhanced inventories to potential sediment focusing and additional watershed erosional input. The Al-normalized enrichment factors (ANEF) were used to evaluate the contribution from natural versus anthropogenic sources. The ANEF of Ag, Ni, As, Cd and Se were > 1.5, which suggests a significant contribution of anthropogenic sources for these trace metals varied between 226% and 1163%. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) values of the sediment column suggest that Cu, Pb, Zn, Co, Mn, Sb, V and Hg were in an unpolluted level and the others were in a polluted level. Besides, both the ANEF and Igeo values of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, As, Se, Cd and Hg showed a peak at 28–30 cm layer (corresponds to 1978–1981), which is attributed to maximum metal release during 1970s.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

References

  • Algan O, Cagatay N, Sarikaya HZ, Balkis N, Sari E (1999) Pollution monitoring using marine sediments: a case study on the Istanbul metropolitan area. Turk J Eng Sci 23:39–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Audry S, Schäfer J, Blanc G, Jouanneau JM (2004) Fifty-year sedimentary record of heavy metal pollution (Cd, Zn, Cu, Pb) in the Lot River reservoirs (France). Environ Pollut 132(3):413–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakan G, Özkoç HB, Tülek S, Cüce TH (2010) Integrated environmental quality assessment of the Kızılırmak River and its coastal environment. Turk J Fish Aquat Sci 10(4):453–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balkis N, Cagatay MN (2001) Factors controlling metal distribution in the surface sediments of the Erdek Bay, Sea of Marmara. Environ Int 27:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balkis N, Topcuoglu S, Guven KC, Ozturk B, Topaloglu B, Kirbasoglu C, Aksu A (2007) Heavy metals in shallow sediments from the Black Sea, Marmara Sea and Aegean Sea regions of Turkey. J Black Sea Mediterr Environ 13:147–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Baskaran M (2011) Po-210 and Pb-210 as atmospheric tracers and global atmospheric Pb-210 fallout: a review. J Environ Radioact 102(5):500–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baskaran M, Nix J, Kuyper C, Karunakara N (2014) Problems with the dating of sediment core using excess 210Pb in a freshwater system impacted by large scale watershed changes. J Environ Radioact 138:355–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baskaran M, Bianchi TS, Filley TR (2017) Inconsistencies between 14C and short-lived radionuclides-based sediment accumulation rates: effects of long-term remineralization. J Environ Radioact 174:10–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Callaway JC, DeLaune RD, Patrick JWH (1996) Chernobyl 137Cs used to determine sediment accretion rates at selected northern European coastal wetlands. Limnol Oceanogr 41(3):444–450

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dou Y, Li J, Zhao J, Hu B, Yang S (2013) Distribution, enrichment and source of heavy metals in surface sediments of the eastern Beibu Bay, South China Sea. Mar Pollut Bull 67(1–2):137–145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eichler A, Tobler L, Eyrikh S, Malygina N, Papina T, Schwikowski M (2014) Ice-core based assessment of historical anthropogenic heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Sb, Zn) emissions in the Soviet Union. Environ Sci Technol 48(5):2635–2642

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulin SB (2000) Recent changes of biogenic carbonate deposition in anoxic sediments of the Black Sea: sedimentary record and climatic implication. Mar Environ Res 49(4):319–328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gulin SB, Polikarpov GG, Egorov VN, Martin JM, Korotkov AA, Stokozov NA (2002) Radioactive contamination of the north-western Black Sea sediments. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 54(3):541–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Güven KC, OkuÅŸ E, TopcuoÄŸlu S, Esen N, Küçükcezzar R, Seddigh E, Kut D (1998) Heavy metal accumulation in algae and sediments of the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Toxicol Environ Chem 67(3–4):435–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haciyakupoglu S, Ertek TA, Walling DE, Ozturk ZF, Karahan G, Erginal AE, Celebi N (2005) Using caesium-137 measurements to investigate soil erosion rates in western Istanbul (NW Turkey). CATENA 64(2–3):222–231

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horowitz AJ, Elrick KA (1987) The relation of stream sediment surface area, grain size and composition to trace element chemistry. Appl Geochem 2(4):437–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Idris AM (2008) Combining multivariate analysis and geochemical approaches for assessing heavy metal level in sediments from Sudanese harbors along the Red Sea coast. Microchem J 90(2):159–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ilus E, Saxén R (2005) Accumulation of Chernobyl-derived 137Cs in bottom sediments of some Finnish lakes. J Environ Radioact 82(2):199–221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jweda J, Baskaran M (2011) Interconnected riverine-lacustrine systems as sedimentary repositories: a case study in southeast Michigan using excess 210Pb- and 137Cs-based sediment accumulation and mixing models. J Great Lakes Res 37:432–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KaçaroÄŸlu F, DeÄŸirmenci M, Cerit O (2001) Water quality problems of a gypsiferous watershed: Upper Kizilirmak Basin, Sivas, Turkey. Water Air Soil Poll 128(1–2):161–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ketterer ME, Watson BR, Matisoff G, Wilson CG (2002) Rapid dating of recent aquatic sediments using Pu activities and 240Pu/239Pu as determined by quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Environ Sci Technol 36(6):1307–1311

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kisi O, Ay M (2014) Comparison of Mann-Kendall and innovative trend method for water quality parameters of the Kizilirmak River, Turkey. J Hydrol 513:362–375

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • KiziltaÅŸ MS, HaciyakupoÄŸlu S, Gökbulak F, Hizal A (2009) Determination of soil loss by 137Cs fallout radionuclide in Ömerli watershed of Ä°stanbul, Turkey. Turk J Agric For 33(3):295–303

    Google Scholar 

  • Krishnaswamy S, Lal D, Martin J, Meybeck M (1971) Geochronology of lake sediments. Earth Planet Sci Lett 11:407–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kut D, Topcuoglu S, Esen N, Kuçukcezzar R, Guven KC (2000) Trace metals in marine algae and sediment samples from the Bosphorus. Water Air Soil Pollut 118:27–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindahl P, Lee SH, Worsfold P, Keith-Roach M (2010) Plutonium isotopes as tracers for ocean processes: a review. Mar Environ Res 69(2):73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muller G (1979) Schwermetalle in den sedimenten des RheinsdVeranderungen seitt 1971. Umschan 79:778–783

    Google Scholar 

  • Murray KS, Cauvet D, Lybeer M, Thomas JC (1999) Particle size and chemical control of heavy metals in bed sediment from the Rouge River, Southeast Michigan. Environ Sci Technol 33(7):987–992

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO (1979) Global inventory of natural and anthropogenic emissions of trace metals to the atmosphere. Nature 279(5712):409

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nriagu JO (1989) A global assessment of natural sources of atmospheric trace metals. Nature 338(6210):47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pempkowiak J (1991) Enrichment factor of heavy metals in the Southern Baltic surface sediments dated with 210Pb and 137Cs. Environ Int 17:421–428

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratte S, Bao K, Shen J, Mackenzie L, Klamt AM, Wang G, Xing W (2018) Recent atmospheric metal deposition in peatlands of northeast China: a review. Sci Total Environ 626:1284–1294

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robbins JA (1978) Geochemical and geophysical applications of radioactive lead isotopes. In: Nriagu JO (ed) Biochemistry of lead. Elsevier, Amstredan

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz F (2001) Trace metals in estuarine sediments from the south-western Spanish Coast. Mar Pollut Bull 42:406–414

    Google Scholar 

  • Santschi PH, Li YH, Bell JJ, Trier TM, Kawtaluk K (1980) Pu in coastal marine environments. Earth Planet Sci Lett 51:248–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shishkina EA, Pryakhin EA, Popova IY, Osipov DI, Tikhova Y, Andreyev SS, Shaposhnikova IA, Egoreichenkov EA, Styazhkina EV, Deryabina LV, Tryapitsina GA, Melnikov V, Rudolfsen G, Teien HC, Sneve MK, Tryapitsina GA (2016) Evaluation of distribution coefficients and concentration ratios of 90Sr and 137Cs in the Techa River and the Miass River. J Environ Radioact 158:148–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith JN, Boudreau BP, Noshkin V (1986) Plutonium and 210Pb distribution in northeast Atlantic sediments: Subsurface anomalies casued by non-local mixing. Earth Planet Sci Lett 81:15–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swarzenski PW, Baskaran M, Rosenbauer RJ, Orem WH (2006) Historical trace element distribution in sediments from the Mississippi River delta. Estuar Coast 29(6):1094–1107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor SR, McLennan SM (1995) The geochemical evolution of the continental crust. Rev Geophys 33(2):241–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tereshchenko NN, Mirzoyeva NY, Gulin SB, Milchakova NA (2014) Contemporary radioecological state of the North-western Black Sea and the problems of environment conservation. Mar Pollut Bull 81(1):7–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topcuoglu S, Kirbasoglu Ç, Gungor N (2002) Heavy metals in organisms and sediments from Turkish Coast of the Black Sea, 1997–1998. Environ Int 27:521–526

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Topcuoglu S, Ergul HA, Baysal A, Olmez E, Kut D (2003) Determination of radionuclides and heavy metal concentrations in biota and sediment samples from Pazar and Rize stations in the eastern Black Sea. Fresenius Environ Bull 12:695–699

    Google Scholar 

  • Topcuoglu S, Olmez E, Kirbasoglu Ç, Yılmaz YZ, Saygin N (2004a) Heavy metal and radioactivity in biota and sediment samples collected from Ãœnye in the eastern Black Sea. Rapp Comm Int Mer Médit 37:250

    Google Scholar 

  • Topcuoglu S, Kirbasoglu C, Yılmaz YZ (2004b) Heavy metal levels in biota and sediments in the northern coast of the Marmara Sea. Environ Monit Asses 96(1–3):183–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • TUBITAK (2010) Watershed protection action plan project for the Kizilirmak River Basin—final report. The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey. Marmara Research Center, Kocaeli, Turkey, p 529 (in Turkish and English (some parts))

  • Wang J, Baskaran M, Hou X, Du J, Zhang J (2017a) Historical changes in 239Pu and 240Pu sources in sedimentary records in the East China Sea: implications for provenance and transportation. Earth Planet Sci Lett 466:32–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Baskaran M, Niedermiller J (2017b) Mobility of 137Cs in freshwater lakes: a mass balance and diffusion study of Lake St. Clair, Southeast Michigan, USA. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 218:323–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang J, Du J, Zheng J (2020) Plutonium isotopes research in the marine environment: a synthesis. J Nucl Radiochem Sci 20:1–11

    Google Scholar 

  • Wedepohl KH (1995) The composition of the continental crust. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 59(7):1217–1232

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yao Z, Gao P (2007) Heavy metal research in lacustrine sediment: a review. Chin J Oceanol Limn 25(4):444–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Liu CL (2002) Riverine composition and estuarine geochemistry of particulate metals in China—weathering features, anthropogenic impact and chemical fluxes. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 54(6):1051–1070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang H, Shan B (2008) Historical records of heavy metal accumulation in sediments and the relationship with agricultural intensification in the Yangtze-Huaihe region, China. Sci Total Environ 399(1–3):113–120

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The sediment core sampling component of this work was supported by Nevsehir HBV University research project NEUBAP14F4. Radiochemical work was conducted at the Geology Department at Wayne State University partially supported by the Urban Watershed Environmental Research Group (UWERG). Jinlong Wang would like to thank the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41706089). Omer Bilhan would like to thank the Geology Department in Nevsehir HBV University in Turkey for sub-sampling the sediment core for the use of their laboratory.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Jinlong Wang, Mark Baskaran & Anupam Kumar

  2. State Key Laboratory Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, People’s Republic of China

    Jinlong Wang

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Nevsehir HBV University, 50300, Nevsehir, Turkey

    Omer Bilhan

  4. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA

    Omer Bilhan & Carol J. Miller

Authors
  1. Jinlong Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mark Baskaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anupam Kumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Omer Bilhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Carol J. Miller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jinlong Wang.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (DOCX 26 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, J., Baskaran, M., Kumar, A. et al. Reconstruction of temporal variations of metal concentrations using radiochronology (239+240Pu and 137Cs) in sediments from Kizilirmak River, Turkey. J Paleolimnol 65, 137–149 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-020-00154-w

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-020-00154-w

Keywords

search

Navigation