DETERMINATION OF RADIONUCLIDE AND HEAVY METAL CONCENTRATIONS IN BIOTA AND SEDIMENT SAMPLES FROM PAZAR AND RIZE STATIONS IN THE EASTERN BLACK SEA

Abstract

SUMMARY The radionuclides ( 137 Cs, 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K) and heavy metal concentrations (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn) were determined in macro algae, mussel, fish and sediment samples collected from two stations at the eastern Turkish coast of the Black Sea. The measured 137 Cs, 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K concentrations are within the range of the values cited in previous works concerning the Turkish Black Sea coast. However, the radionuclide concentrations in the sediment fraction < 63 µm are significantly higher. Regarding the influence of the collection sites on the accumulation of the heavy metals in biota, Rize is generally more polluted. At the same time, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn concentrations in Rize sediment are also higher than in Pazar sediment of similar grain size. In general, the heavy metal concentrations in the present study are not higher than previously results. However, Pb and Cu levels increased in biota and sediment in the Turkish area of the Black Sea during the years investigated.