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Heavy metal pollution in sediments and mussels: assessment by using pollution indices and metallothionein levels

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Abstract

In the present work, the concentration of eight metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) was determined in the sediments and transplanted and native mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). The study was conducted in Turkish marinas, shipyards, and shipbreaking yards. The effect of metal pollution was evaluated by determining the levels of metallothionein (MT) in the mussels. The extent of contamination for each single metal was assessed by using the geoaccumulation index (I geo) and enrichment factor (EF). Whereas, to evaluate the overall metal pollution and effect, the pollution load index (PLI), modified contamination degree (mC d), potential toxicity response index (RI), mean effects range median (ERM) quotient (m-ERM-Q), and mean PEL quotient (m-PEL-Q) were calculated. The influence of different background values on the calculations was discussed. The results indicated a significant metal pollution caused by Cu, Pb, and Zn especially in shipyard and shipbreaking sites. Higher concentrations of MT were observed in the ship/breaking yard samples after the transplantation.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been supported via joint research projects between the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and the International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Germany (Project Nos: 110Y194 in Turkey and PT-DLR 01DL12016 in Germany).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Istanbul Technical University, Maslak, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey

    Oya S. Okay, Atilla Yılmaz, Sevil D. Yakan, Burak Karacık & Bilge Tutak

  2. Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Biology, Arts and Sciences Faculty, İnönü University, 44069, Malatya, Turkey

    Murat Ozmen & Abbas Güngördü

  3. Institute of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, 85764, Neuherberg, Germany

    Karl-Werner Schramm

  4. Department für Biowissenschaften, TUM, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung und Landnutzung, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350, Freising, Germany

    Karl-Werner Schramm

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  1. Oya S. Okay
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  2. Murat Ozmen
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  3. Abbas Güngördü
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Okay, O.S., Ozmen, M., Güngördü, A. et al. Heavy metal pollution in sediments and mussels: assessment by using pollution indices and metallothionein levels. Environ Monit Assess 188, 352 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5346-8

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