Seasonal changes of heavy metal accumulation some macroalgae species and sediments along the coastal area in the Iskenderun Bay

In this investigation, heavy metal pollution of coastal zone of İskenderun Bay was tried to determined by measuring the levels of Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn) and Cadmium (Cd) in macroalge species (Jania rubens, Padina pavonia, Laurencia papillosa, Cystoseira corniculata) and sediment samples which were collected from at the three different station in the İskenderun Bay. For this purpose, heavy metal levels in macroalge and sediment samples were measured spectrometrically. In macroalge samples heavy metal concentrations decreased in the following order: Fe ? Zn ? Pb > Cu ? Cd, in sediment samples Fe > Pb > Zn > Cu > Cd. The concentrations of heavy metals were higher in J. rubens and P. pavonia than in L. papillosa and C. corniculata. Thus, the macroalgae species, J. rubens and P. pavonia could be an indicator in terms of heavy metal accumulation in the İskenderun Bay and besides, it is concluded that these species could be used as a indicator species in heavy metal pollution studies.