Ecological Risk Analysis of Lake Arin Sediments (Bitlis, Türkiye)


Faydalgel S., Erginal A. E.

International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, vol.10, no.3, pp.40-47, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the ecological risk of Lake Arin through an analysis using comprehensive indexes. Surface sediment samples (21) and bedrock samples (5) were collected from Lake Arin. The metal concentrations were obtained from the ICP-OES analysis values. Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Toxic Risk Index (TRI), Modified ecological risk index (mER) and Modified Potential Ecological Risk Index (m-PER) were calculated from the ICP-OES data. Our results reveal that the average concentration of the Lake Arin metals is Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Co > Pb > Cd > As, in decreasing order. While moderate enrichment was determined for Ni, As and Zn, moderate contamination was detected only for Ni. It was determined there was no contamination in terms of Geoaccumulation Factor, and PER values showed low ecological risk. The second highest EF value belongs to As, which is thought to originate from the use of fossil fuels in the region. As a result of the ecological risk analysis of Lake Arin, it was determined that the metal levels were not at high levels and were not toxic.

This study aimed to determine the ecological risk of Lake Arin through an analysis using comprehensive indexes. Surface sediment samples (21) and bedrock samples (5) were collected from Lake Arin. The metal concentrations were obtained from the ICP-OES analysis values. Enrichment Factor (EF), Contamination Factor (CF), Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo) and Toxic Risk Index (TRI), Modified ecological risk index (mER) and Modified Potential Ecological Risk Index (m-PER) were calculated from the ICP-OES data. Our results reveal that the average concentration of the Lake Arin metals is Al > Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni > Co > Pb > Cd > As, in decreasing order. While moderate enrichment was determined for Ni, As and Zn, moderate contamination was detected only for Ni. It was determined there was no contamination in terms of Geoaccumulation Factor, and PER values showed low ecological risk. The second highest EF value belongs to As, which is thought to originate from the use of fossil fuels in the region. As a result of the ecological risk analysis of Lake Arin, it was determined that the metal levels were not at high levels and were not toxic.