Heavy metal accumulations in the sediment of lover Melet river, Ordu

Melet River, originated from the city limits of Sivas, is the longest river of Ordu with approximate length of 161 km. The river is a natural board between the Middle and The East Black Sea Regions. Carrying between October 2013 and September 2014, the present study aimed to investigate accumulation of some heavy metals in the sediment of Lower Melet River. Sample's heavy metal analyses were performed by Bruker ICP-MS instrument. Melet River sediment's heavy metal levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, As, Se, Fe, Mn, Pb ve Zn were determined monthly. Obtained data from all months the max. and min levels of metal were as follows; Cr:6.4±2.7, Mn:589.79±194.04, Fe:11211.02±6555.33, Co:7.83±3.83, Cu:25.83±6.89, Zn:71.88±13.32, As:2.19±0.17, Se:29.31±9.15, Cd:0.39±0.05, Pb:25.23±3.09 µg/g. Ni levels were undetectable for all months and stations. Fe is determined as the highest concentrate metal for all months and stations while Cd is the lowest. The Metal concentrations in descending order were as follow; Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Se > Pb > Co > Cr > As > Cd , respectively. Heavy metal levels determined in the sediment of Melet River were significantly different (p<0.05). Determined heavy metal levels from the sediment of Lower Melet River of Ordu city show that they are not the threaten level for public health and aquatic organism.