Investigations on the heavy metal pollution in lake ecosystems: A case study from Gölbaşi lake (Kirikhan-Hatay/Turkey)

In this study, Nymphaea alba L. and Nuphar lutea (L.) Sm. species belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae were studied in 10 localities in terms of heavy metal pollution. Total amounts of cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, manganese and lead were investigated in rhizome, petiole and leaves of these species together with the sediment and water samples. Heavy metal concentrations detected in water and plant samples are higher in autumn, while in sediment samples these are higher in spring. In the water samples taken from all localities, heavy metal concentrations are listed as manganese> copper > chromium > lead > cobalt > cadmium. When the values detected in water samples are compared with the allowable limit values on a national scale, the concentration of cadmium, chromium, copper and lead exceeded the limit levels. Heavy metal concentrations in sediment samples are listed as manganese > lead > copper > chromium> cobalt > cadmium. A comparison of the values detected in the sediment samples with the allowable limit values at the national scale has revealed that the concentration values of cadmium and lead exceeded the limit level. When the heavy metal concentration values detected in both species are compared with the acceptable reference limit values in plants, manganese is among the acceptable limit values in all plant parts. All other heavy metal values exceed the limit levels, exhibiting a toxic level of accumulation. In both plant species, heavy metal concentrations mostly accumulated in the leaves.