Determination of some major and trace elements in the lower Sakarya River by using ICP-MS

Excessive use of herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers in agricultural activities, anthropogenic discharges and industrial effluents are known to be sources of pollution for the living environment, in water and sediments. Water shows short term effects and sediment shows a long term indication of heavy metal accumulation. It is well known that industries which do not have a water treatment utility have a direct effect on water pollution and an indirect effect on soil and plant contamination. In this paper, water and sediment samples were collected along the Lower Sakarya River basin for a twelve month period between February 2007 and January 2008. The samples were analysed for trace elements (31 elements in sediment and 33 elements in water) using the ICP-MS technique as pollution indicators. The results indicated that the Sakarya River water was polluted by sources of beryllium and thallium which exceeded the limits set by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA 2003). Sediments were polluted by Antimony, Tin, Rhodium and Selenium. The results also provide useful data for the conservation of the Black Sea where it is joined by the Sakarya River.