African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 6 (19), pp. 2236-2244, 4 October 2007   

ISSN 1684–5315 © 2007 Academic Journals        

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of heavy metals in Lake Uluabat, Turkey

Ayşe Elmaci, Arzu Teksoy, Fatma Olcay Topaç, Nihan Özengin, Sudan Kurtoğlu and Hüseyin Savaş Başkaya

Uludağ University, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department of Environmental Engineering, Görükle, Bursa, 16059, Turkey.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: aelmaci@uludag.edu.tr. Fax: +90 224 44291 48. Tel: +90 224 2942107.

Accepted 27 July, 2007

The accumulation of heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, B, As) was measured in water, plankton and sediment samples taken from different areas of Lake Uluabat during January 2003 to February 2004. The sequential extraction used in this study is useful to assess the potential mobility of heavy metals in the sediment indirectly. In this study, Cu, Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni and Zn concentrations were detected at higher levels at Lake Uluabat for selected stations, especially in plankton samples. The magnitude of heavy metal concentrations in water and plankton samples was determined as B>Zn>As>Cd>Pb>Ni>Cr and Zn>Ni>Cu>Cr>Cd>Pb, respectively. The mobile heavy metals in sediment samples were sequenced as Pb>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Zn, whereas the magnitude of easily mobilizable metal concentration was determined as Pb>Ni>Cr>Cu>Cd>Zn. Concentration of Cu and Cr in mobile fraction is detected higher than in easily mobilizable fraction. Concentration of Pb, Cd, Zn and Ni in mobile fraction is detected in lower levels than in easily mobilizable fraction.

Key words: Fraction of heavy metals, Lake Uluabat, plankton, sediment, water.