Concentrations of toxic metals in wetland sediments, source identification, and ecological risks: A case study in NW Türkiye

PARLAK M., Dengiz O., Safli M. E., Bayrakli B.

JOURNAL OF COASTAL CONSERVATION, cilt.30, sa.3, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

Özet

Wetland sediments have become enriched with toxic metals due to natural and anthropogenic pressures. This study was conducted to determine the concentrations of toxic metals, their possible sources, and the environmental and ecological risks in the sediments of four lakes in northwestern T & uuml;rkiye (G & ouml;k & ccedil;eada Lake, Nil & uuml;fer Lake, Pembe Lake, and Suvla Salt Lake). The toxic metal concentrations in the lake sediments in the study area ranged between 0.03 and 17.3 mg kg- 1 for Cd, 0.89-25.85 mg kg- 1 for Co, 1.80-47.29 mg kg- 1 for Cu, 2759-54,284 mg kg- 1 for Fe, 46.68-1703.43 mg kg- 1 for Mn, 4.19-73.73 mg kg- 1 for Ni, 0.73- 83 mg kg- 1 for Pb, 6.37-162 mg kg- 1 for Zn, respectively. Multivariate statistical analyses have demonstrated a correlation between metal accumulation and lithogenic and anthropogenic factors. The results of the enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and contamination factor (CF) indicate that the majority of toxic metals were classified as minimal enrichment, uncontaminated to moderately contaminated and low contamination, respectively. The majority of metals exhibited low contamination levels, as indicated by the pollution load index (PLI). According to the ecological risk factor (Er), these metals posed a low ecological risk, while the ecological risk index (RI) suggested a moderate potential ecological risk. These findings indicate the necessity for effective management strategies to reduce risks in wetlands, which are fragile ecosystems.