Distributions of total metals in the surface sediments of the Bandirma and Erdek Gulfs, Marmara Sea, Turkey

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.