Assessment of Metal(loid) Accumulation in the Surficial Sediment of Meyil Lake.

This study investigated eight metal (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cr, Al) and one metalloid (As) amounts in the sediment of Meyil Sinkhole Lake. The findings obtained were compared with the limit values of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) such as PEL (probable effect level), TEL (threshold effect level), ERL (effects range low) and ERM (effects range median). In addition its probable toxic effects were investigated via different sediment evaluation methods. As a result, the value of the metal concentrations tested was below the limit value. The contamination factor of all the metal(loid)s tested was found to be below 1 (𝐶𝐶𝑓𝑓 𝑖𝑖 <1). In other words, the accumulation level of all metal(loid) was found to be low. Also the mean ERM quotient (m-ERM-q) and mean PEL quotient (m-PEL-q) values revealed that there was no risk for the lake. The total toxic unit (Σ TU) method revealing the toxic effect of the metal(loid)s, also supported this result. In the light of all these data, the sediment of the lake was found to be clean in terms of investigated meta(loid). The accumulation relations of metals (loids) are also revealed by correlation analysis. The correlations between Zn-Pb and Fe were remarkable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]