Investigation of heavy metal pollution in sediments from Lake Bafa

About 2000 years ago, the Bafa Lake was formed as a natural lagoon due to filling of the alluvial materials to the front of the Latmos Bay, one of the biggest bay of the Aegean Sea, which were carried by Menderes River. The surface area of the Bafa Bay is about 75 squere kilometer, it?s the location above the sea level 5 meter, and it?s the deepest part 20-25 meter.The scientific data of the Bafa Lake is too limited. In this study, the Lake Bafa, which is one of the largest coastal lakes in the Aegean region, pollution of the lake sediment are investigated and for this purpose in the form of surface and core sediment samples were taken. In order to demonstrate the degree of pollution of the lake; metal concentration (Fe, Cr, Mn, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, Hg) in surface and bottom sediments, radiometric dating of core samples, were analized. In addition, grain size, organic carbon and carbonate analyzes in sediment samples, and physicochemical parameters and current were determined in the lake water.According to the dating and heavy metal analysis; There was no significant deviations of metal concentrations except for Hg along the core C1. However after the 10. cm of the cores Hg concentration amount show a significant increase. Heavy metal concentrations were interpreted according to some indices of pollution and for Fe, Cr, Zn, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cu, in the almost all of the surface and core samples are classified as unpolluted. However, metal enrichment factor of Hg values were rather high. In this case; the study area to be polluted by Hg.