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 mu g g(-1), 13.520 mu g g(-1), 8.780 mu g g(-1), 2.550 mu g g(-1), 9.990 mu g g(-1) and for water samples are; 0.851 mu g g(-1), 1.050 mu g g(-1), 0.027 mu g g(-1), 1.786 mu g g(-1), 0.236 mu g g(-1), 0.173 mu g g(-1), respectively.