Assessment of heavy metal pollution in coastal surface sediments of the Mersin Bay, Northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Heavy metals accumulated in the sediment constitute a potential source of pollution having a higher pollutant load than the overlying seawater. In order to determine anthropogenic impacts on the heavy metal enrichment and contamination in surface sediments, either reference/background values of the metals in the pristine condition or reference metal values of the earth's crust are widely used. In this study, the metal pollution indices Enrichment Factor, Geoaccumulation Index, Contamination Factor and Pollution Load Index were used to determine the levels and sources of metal pollution (Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium and Lead) in the coastal surface sediments of the Mersin Bay. The study findings indicated that the coastal surface sediments of the Mersin Bay are highly enriched by Chromium, Nickel and Cadmium due to anthropogenic pressures and weathering and erosion of the rocks.