Research Information System
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH, vol.142, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Surface sediments serve as both sinks and sources of toxic pollutants within freshwater ecosystems and are widely recognized as indicators of water body integrity. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive geochemical assessment of potentially toxic elements in K & imath;z & imath;l & imath;rmak River sediments using multi-index evaluation approaches to determine contamination levels, seasonal variations, and associated ecological and human health risk implications. Analysis of twelve metals using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry revealed significant contamination with concentrations following the order: Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu > Pb > As > Hg > Cd. Multiple pollution indices confirmed contamination: contamination factor classified arsenic (8.86) as highly contaminated; Cu, Cd, Cr, and Ni (3.08, 3.72, 4.37, and 5.65, respectively) as considerably contaminated; and Mn, Zn, Hg, and Pb (1.76, 1.99, 1.14, and 1.35, respectively) as moderately contaminated. Enrichment factor analysis showed significant enrichment of As (9.27) and Ni (5.81), while the geoaccumulation index classified sediments as moderately to strongly polluted with As (2.55). Ecological risk assessment identified copper as posing a very high ecological risk. Health risk assessment indicated acceptable non-carcinogenic risks for all populations but revealed moderate carcinogenic effects from Ni (1.47x10(-4)) and Cr (1.09x10(-4)) in adults and high effects from Cr (1.02x10(-3)), Ni (1.37x10(-3)), and As (1.02x10(-3)) in children. Seasonal variations showed the highest concentrations for most metals during the winter months. This study emphasizes the need for ongoing monitoring and remediation of metal contamination in the K & imath;z & imath;l & imath;rmak River basin.