Abstract
The aim of this study is to determine the contents of aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, chromium, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sediments at 1–30 m depths of the Bandırma and Erdek Gulfs in the Southern Inner Shelf of the Marmara Sea. Sediment samples were collected from different depths (1 m, 5 m, 10 m, 20 m, 30 m) at each region in February 2008. Primary hydrographic conditions, such as temperature (6.6–14.5°C), salinity (22.6–26.875 psu), percentage of dissolved oxygen saturation (35–83 %), and pH (8.0–8.4) were recorded for each sampling point. Moreover the total organic carbon (0.5–2.9%) and the total calcium carbonate contents (0.8–60%) of sediment samples were determined. In surface sediments of both gulfs, Pb (21–62 mg kg−1) and Cd (0.52–0.86 mg kg−1) contents were determined to be higher than the shale average (Pb 20 mg kg−1, Cd 0.2 mg kg−1) while the other metal contents were measured to be lower in general. On the other hand, generally Hg (0.06–1.1 mg kg−1) contents were higher than the shale average (0.3 mg kg−1)at all of the examined stations in the Bandırma Gulf and lower than the shale average in the Erdek Gulf.