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Spatial variation of trace elements in seawater and sediment samples in a heavily industrialized region

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Abstract

Surface seawater and coastal sediment samples were collected concurrently at 22 sampling sites during two sampling periods in the Aliaga industrial region, Turkey. In the study area there are two major bays, with many ports belonging to a petrochemical plant, a petroleum refinery, scrap steel production plants, and a fertilizer plant. Samples were analyzed for 48 trace elements using an ICP-MS system. The concentrations of P, Al, Zn, Fe, Se, Mo, and Ba were found to be higher than those of the other elements in the seawater samples but with no significant spatial and temporal variations. Similarly, concentrations of Al, Ba, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr, and Zn were high in sediment samples from almost all sampling sites. The concentrations of the elements Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu, Co, Sn, Mo, Ni, and Hg showed significant spatial variations due to different distances from industrial facilities. In order to determine the contribution of anthropogenic sources in sediment samples, the levels of pollution were evaluated using pollution indicators, enrichment factors and index of geoaccumulation. The effects on aquatic environments were also determined in accordance with the sediment quality guidelines. Principal component analysis was also employed to find out the factors affecting the elemental composition of the sediments. Principal component analysis indicated that the possible sources in the region were iron-steel production, refinery and petrochemical processes, ship breaking facilities, seawater, crustal sources and re-suspended dust.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the “Assessment of current status of Aliaga industrial region for air pollution” project conducted by Dokuz Eylul University and supported by the Turkish Ministry of Environment and Urbanism and by the industries located in Aliaga region. Also, we would like to thank the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for scholarship support for Melik Kara.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Air Resources Engineering and Science, Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY, 13699-5708, USA

    Melik Kara

  2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Dokuz Eylul University, Tinaztepe Campus, Izmir, 35160, Turkey

    Melik Kara, Yetkin Dumanoglu, Hasan Altiok, Tolga Elbir, Mustafa Odabasi & Abdurrahman Bayram

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  1. Melik Kara
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  2. Yetkin Dumanoglu
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Correspondence to Melik Kara.

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Kara, M., Dumanoglu, Y., Altiok, H. et al. Spatial variation of trace elements in seawater and sediment samples in a heavily industrialized region. Environ Earth Sci 73, 405–421 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3434-z

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