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 μg g−1, 13.520 μg g−1, 8.780 μg g−1, 2.550 μg g−1, 9.990 μg g−1 and for water samples are; 0.851 μg g−1, 1.050 μg g−1, 0.027 μg g−1, 1.786 μg g−1, 0.236 μg g−1, 0.173 μg g−1, respectively.