Determination of total mercury levels from barbecue picnic emissions in surface soils, lake bottom mud and lake fish samples

In this study, the mercury pollution caused by the the barbecue picnics, that have been held in Gölcük Nature Park for many years (from the beginning of the 1960s), on the surface soil, surface sediments and the Gölcük Lake fish through atmospheric precipitation was determined. In order to determine the pollution levels, (1) surface soil samples, (2) surface sediment, and (3) fish samples were collected and analyzed for total mercury in summer and warming seasons (winter) in the areas that were allowed for barbecue picnics. Mercury contamination levels were determined by comparing the analysis results of the samples with the results obtained from the reference study areas. Results of the study showed that the barbecue picnic activities cause mercury emission and the emitted mercury accumulates in the surface soil and sediment as well as in the fish living in the lake. Total mercury concentrations (summer and winter together) measured in Gölcük Nature Park's surface soil and pond surface sediment samples were found to be higher than the reference study area samples. The fact that higher total mercury concentration levels were determined in all sample matrices studied within the scope of the project, including fish samples, compared to the reference study areas, indicated that the charcoal burned in barbecue picnics is an important source of mercury emission.