Investigation of heavy metal contaminations in the lower Sakarya river water and sediments

In this work, water and sediment samples were collected from three different stations located along the Sakarya river between May and September 2003. Lead, copper, chromium, zinc, nickel and cadmium concentrations were determined by using solvent extraction and flame atomic absorption spectrometric method. The results show that differences based upon sampling times, regions, sediment and water samples were observed. The mean levels of copper, nickel, chromium, lead, cadmium, zinc for sediment samples are; 4.630 microg g(-1), 13.520 microg g(-1), 8.780 microg g(-1), 2.550 microg g(-1), 9.990 microg g(-1) and for water samples are; 0.851 microg g(-1), 1.050 microg g(-1), 0.027 microg g(-1), 1.786 microg g(-1), 0.236 microg g(-1), 0.173 microg g(-1), respectively.