Dergiler / AQUATIC SCIENCES and ENGINEERING / 2019 / Cilt: 34 - Sayı: 3

Use of the Potential Ecological Risk Index for Sediment Quality Assessment: A Case Study of Dam Lakes in the Thrace Part of the Marmara Region

Use of the Potential Ecological Risk Index for Sediment Quality Assessment: A Case Study of Dam Lakes in the Thrace Part of the Marmara Region

Cem Tokatlı

Sayfa
90–95
DOI
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Abstract

Ergene River Basin, which is known as a critically contaminated habitat, is located in the ThracePart of the Marmara Region of Turkey. Altınyazı, Karaidemir, Kayalıköy, Kırklareli, Sultanköy andSüloğlu Dam Lakes are located in the Ergene River Basin in the Thrace Region, which has verylarge agricultural lands because of rich soil and many freshwater resources. They were constructedby DSİ (State Water Works) in order to provide irrigation and drinking water and flood protection.The aim of this study was to evaluate the sediment quality of these artificial lentic ecosystems byinvestigating a total of 25 essential and toxic element accumulations and evaluate the ecologicalrisks of toxic metals on the reservoirs by using Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI). Sediment samples were collected in the spring season (rainy) of 2018 from 15 stations and element concentrations were investigated by using an ICP-MS. According to the results of RI, cadmium, lead andarsenic were found to be the highest ecological risk factors for the basin reservoirs.