Assessment of Ecologic Quality in Terms of Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sediment and Fish on Sakarya River and Dam Lakes, Turkey

Abstract

Sakarya River with a length of 824 km is one of the most important lothic ecosystems of Turkey. Sariyar, Gokcekaya and Yenice Dams were constructed on the Sararya River for the purpose of electric supply and utility water for agricultural and fishery activities. In this study, sediment samples were collected from 14 stations selected on areas seasonally (2015-2016). Also, cyprinidae species (Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782), Capoeta baliki) (Turan, 21 Kottelat, Ekmekci & Imamoglu 2006) were caught from Dam Lakes and Sakarya River. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb levels in sediment samples and in tissues (liver, gill and muscle) of fish were analyzed in samples by Analytic Jena ContrAA 700 (high-resolution continuum source atomic absorption spectrometer). The data observed were evaluated with national and international quality criteria. According to the data in the study results, heavy metal accumulations in the gill and liver of fish were determined higher than muscle. Zn levels in muscle of C. gibelio caught from Yenice Dam Lake were higher than the permissible limit stated by Turkish legislation and FAO. Also, Cr and Ni levels in sediment samples especially during rainy seasons were higher to dry seasons and Cr and Ni levels were detected higher than sediment quality guidelines.