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Potentially hazardous elements (PHEs) are non-biodegradable and accumulate in places like water, soil, and plants where they endanger environmental health. There are a considerable number of wetlands having both national and worldwide importance in Türkiye. Regarding PHE accumulation, sediments and Ceratophyllum demersum were examined in the Miliç Wetland (MW), situated in a basin with intense hazelnut and rice farming, which is next to the international highway on the Central Black Sea Coast of Türkiye. The quantification of PHEs in the study subjects was undertaken using a validated inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method, and mean concentrations (mg/kg) of PHEs in the sediments were in the order of Al (13,133) > Fe (10,790) > Mn (205.84) > Cu (17.95) > Cr (16.40) > Zn (15.55) > Ni (11.74) > Pb (9.17) > Co (6.30) > As (2.07) > Cd (0.19). The ecotoxicological risk was assessed using sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and certain geological indices, indicating mostly low ecological risk, low pollution, and no hazardous risk. Based on the modified hazard quotient (mHQ) classification of values, Ni showed low contamination, while Cd, Pb, As, and Cu displayed very low contamination, and Zn presented minor contamination. The findings of total lifetime cancer risk (LCR), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) identified that exposure of adults or children to sediments containing PHEs would not represent a major health risk. As a recommendation, it is necessary to avoid the direct entrance of agricultural pesticides and fertilizers to enhance the sediment quality of the MW. Since the highway was constructed close to MW, this is considered a significant source of human-caused pollution. Consequently, all PHEs analyzed, except for Cd, displayed a bioconcentration factor (BCF) value of more than 1000, indicating that Ceratophyllum demersum is a promising plant for phytoremediation in PHE-polluted ecological systems involving wetlands, and it can efficiently be employed as an indicator species in biological screening investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated contamination and ecological risks caused by selected heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, etc.) in the Mid-Black Sea coastal sediments and their effects on human health. The pollution levels were evaluated using comprehensive ecological and pollution indices to quantify their exposure risks posed to human health using the United States Environmental Protection Agency risk assessment model. The result revealed that the mean concentration of Cr (536.14 mg/kg) and Ni (257.8 mg/kg) among the selected heavy metals in sediment was above the PEC value, indicating that they have negative impacts on the ecosystem. According to the local background values, those obtained from the Cf, Cd, Igeo, SEF, PLI, PERI, etc., indexes demonstrated that heavy metal pollution in this region ranged from pollution-free to moderate pollution, with the largest contribution of Cr and Ni. Hence, they must be performed long-term dynamic monitoring of Ni and Cr to avoid ecological risks and protect the ecosystem's health. On the other hand, since the non-carcinogenic health risk (HI) of selected heavy metals in adults is less than 1, it has been determined that there is no health risk, while the HI value is greater than 3 in children. Accordingly, it indicates a very high health risk for children. This study also presents that cancer risk for heavy metals was higher than the acceptable limit (1 × 10–6) for adults and children. The results of this study have important guiding significance for selecting evaluation methods for heavy metal pollution in sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]