Investigation of heavy metal accumulation in water, sediment and some bivalvia at specific localities of Tigris River

In this study, it was tried to determine heavy metals such as Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, Cd and Pb concentrations in water, sediment and in the internal organs of Unio mancus (Lamarck, 1819), Unio tigridis (Bourguignat, 1853), Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus, 1758) species which was taken from certain times at three localities of Tigris River. Heavy metal analysis of the samples was carried out by Inductively Coupled Plazma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) device. The obtained data was evaluated statistically and the results were compared with the limit values in national and international legislation. Considering heavy metal concentrations in water, Cu was found to be at the highest level in Diyarbakır (I. locality) and Bismil (II. locality) waters during the summer season 2014 and in Hasankeyf (III. locality) water in autumn-2014. Ni metal was measured only in the first locality, Zn was measured in the summer season in order of I. locality (0.066 ppm) > III. locality (0.04 ppm) > II. locality (0.052 ppm). Co, Cd and Pb concentrations were not detected because value was under the analysis limit of ICP-OES device. When the sediment heavy metal accumulations were examined considering the localities, average metal concentration of all localities were determined respectively Zn> Ni >Cu > Co >Pb. In all localities the most encountered heavy metal in sediment samples was Zn, while the lowest one was Pb. The study heavy metal accumulation of Unio mancus species have been evaluated and Cu, Co and Pb concentrations was determined I. locality> II. locality> III. locality; Ni concentration was determined I. locality> III. locality> II. locality; Zn concentration was determined II. locality> III. locality> I. locality. Anodonta anatina species onheavy metal accumulation was evaluated among localities and were found Cu, Ni and Co concentrations I. locality> II. locality> III. locality; Zn concentration III. locality> II. locality> I. locality; Pb concentration II. locality> I. locality> III. locality. In the study of Unio tigridis species on heavy metal accumulation was evaluated among localities and were found Cu, Ni and Pb concentrations I. locality> III. locality; Co and Zn concentrations III. locality> I. locality. Among localities, in Unio mancus species concentration of Cu, Ni and Co; in Anodonta anatina species concentration of Cu, Ni, Co, Zn and Pb; in Unio tigridis species concentration of Cu, Zn and Pb were determined a statistically significant difference (p<0.05).