Heavy Metal Pollution In Cayirova Creek, Kocaeli, Marmara Sea (Turkey)
by
Mehmet Salim Oncel
Gebze Institute of Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Çayirova, Gebze, 41400 Kocaeli, Turkey
Coauthors: Halil Hiz (Gebze Institute of Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Çayirova, Gebze, 41400 Kocaeli, Turkey)

In this study, pollution of heavy metals in Çayirova Creek has been investigated. Çayirova Creek is one of the major pollution sources in Izmit Bay. Çayirova Creek has been located in a watershed and many industrial facilities discharge their wastewater to the creek. In addition, domestic wastewater discharge to the creek is a common practice. The wastewater discharges occur with and without appropriate treatments.

The total Cr, Pb, Cu, Cd and Fe concentrations have been measured in 15 different sampling points located in the creek. The total average concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Fe have been found to be 35, 30, 186, 40 and 180 mg/L, respectively. Results showed that decreases in heavy metal concentrations have been observed away from the industrial discharge points along the creek, which have been attributed to the settling of metal complexes in slow flowing parts of the creek as well as dilution of the water. A substantial increase in the concentration of Pb at a station was a result of traffic emission originated from a highway passing by the creek. Although water has been in high quality in upstream (the source), due to the manmade pollution, the creek could not be used as a drinking water source based on Turkish drinking water standards.

Date received: August 6, 2002