Spatial distribution, environmental risk assessment, and source identification of potentially toxic metals in Atikhisar dam, Turkey

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2021-05, Vol.193 (5), p.268, Article 268
• Main Authors: Fural, Şakir, Kükrer, Serkan, Cürebal, İsa, Aykır, Dilek
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural wastes; Agriculture; Anthropogenic factors; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Cadmium; China; Chromium; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecological effects; Ecological risk assessment; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Enrichment; Environment; Environmental assessment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Environmental risk; Environmental science; Geologic Sediments; Heavy metals; Household wastes; Human influences; Identification; Lead; Man-induced effects; Manganese; Mercury; Mercury (metal); Metal content; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Mineral deposits; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Nickel; Risk Assessment; Sediments; Spatial distribution; Toxicity; Turkey; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Zinc
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09062-6

The objective of this study was to determine the ecological risk created by metal contents of the surface sediments of Atikhisar dam, Çanakkale, NW Turkey. Enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index ( Igeo ) were calculated to determine anthropogenic effects. Ecological risk was assessed using the modified potential ecological risk index (mPER), with its levels being evaluated using the modified ecological risk index (mER). Toxic effects were determined using the toxic risk index (TRI). The ecological risk indices were mapped to provide their spatial distributions. Our findings indicate that enrichment was very high for Hg and significant for Pb, Tl, Cd, and As. The following mER pattern was detected: Hg > Cd > TI > As > Pb > Ni > Cr > Co > Zn > Mn > V. Hg and Cd exhibited extremely high and very high ecological risks, respectively, while TI and As had a significant ecological risk, with Pb exerting a medium ecological risk. Hg, Pb, Tl, Cd, As, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu were enriched via anthropogenic effects exceeding their natural concentration levels. Due to their high toxic effects, Hg, Cd, Tl, As, and Pb were identified as the very high risk elements. Mining, household wastes, agriculture, and natural mineral deposits were identified as the possible sources of the potential ecological risk.