Metal Pollution in Water, Mussel and Surface Sediments of the Western Black Sea Shelf, Turkey

Water, mytilus and surface sediment samples from the Western Black Sea Shelf have been taken duringAugust 2003 and June 2004 periods. Total metal (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr and Hg) contents havebeen investigated in these samples. Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr concentrations of the surface sediments have beenfound higher than the shale average. Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr values range from 10 and 56 μg/g, 0.91 and 2.7μg/g, 69 and 362 ng/g, and 61 and 110 μg/g, respectively. The high total organic carbon (TOC) and dissolvedhydrogen sulphure (DHS) contents of the surface sediments are support these results. While TOC valuesrange from 1.11-4.11 %, DHS concentrations vary between 31.7 and 419 μg/g in the surface sediments. Incontrast, Fe, Cu, Zn and Ni contents of surface sediments are lower than the shale average. The low metalvalues are harmonious with the previous study results. In these researches, it was seen that the Black Searecent sediments was much poorer in therms of Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Ba and V according to deeper marinesediments. In contrast, Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn contents of mytilus from the Western Black Sea Shelf areconsiderably higher than the critical limits set by the Turkish Ministry of Environment for AquaticProducts. Cd, Pb, Cr and Zn values vary between 2.9 and 6.4 μg/g, <0.01 and 28 μg/g, 1.97 and 7.5 μg/g,and 115 and 234 μg/g, respectively. The high values are indicate the anthropogenic (domestic + industrial)inputs via especially the Danube River. Besides, high Mn contents at stations TBK2 and TBK14 (867 and1616 μg/g, respectively) are point out the terrestrial manganese inputs originated from Bink l mining zonein the Thrace Basin.