DISSEMINATION OF HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF BATLAMA STREAM, GIRESUN, TURKEY

The aim of this study is to detect the heavy metal contamination in the sediment of Batlama Stream and to evaluate the anthropogenic effect. Field studies were seasonally carried out in 3 stations between June 2014 and July 2015. In the sampling studies carried out in Batlama Stream, contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), potential ecological risk factor (Eri), lowest effect level (LEL), geoaccumulation index (Igeo) contamination indicators were used in order to evaluate sediment contamination. In Batlama Stream, average heavy metal level of three stations was detected in mg/dry kg in the sediment as Cr 7.08, Mn 63.62, Fe 858.04, Co 5.47, Ni 4.99, Cu 20.61, Zn 49.60, Cd 0.09, and Pb 20.68. Elements which the sediment has most are Fe, Mn, and Zn. According to EF, Pb was detected as an enriching element. Eri Pb is in the low risk group. In LEL value, the highest Pb average was found as 31. According to Igeo values, Pb is a moderate contaminant. This metal has anthropogenic sources and it is caused by domestic, agricultural, and waste waters. In the elements analysed in Batlama Stream sediment (apart from Pb), it is indicated that it is generally a clean stream and considered reference stream.