Assessment of Potentially Toxic Element Pollution in Tributaries of Mogan Lake, Türkiye

Abstract

In this study, four tributaries (Başpınar, Gölcük, Sukesen and Yavrucak Creeks) of Mogan lake under anthropogenic pressure and declared as a Special Environmental Protection Area were investigated with the following goals: a) Determination of the variations in potentially toxic element concentrations (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg, Pb) in the creek waters between different months (December 2002, February 2023, April 2023), b) Calculation of potentially toxic elements indexes (Heavy Metal Pollution Index-HPI and Heavy Metal Evaluation Index-HEI) in terms of irrigation water quality, based on international and national values, c) Determination of the potential ecological risk (PER) status of the creeks in terms of irrigation water quality, d) Comparison of potentially toxic element concentrations with the environmental quality standard values specified in the current “Turkish Surface Water Quality Regulation”. According to the findings; a) In terms of overall potentially toxic element levels, the creeks are ranked as follows: Başpınar Creek> Sukesen Creek>Gölcük Creek>Yavrucak Creek. The heavy metal As was identified as having the highest contribution to metal pollution and the potentially toxic element concentrations in all creeks in February and April were found to be higher compared to that in December, b) The HPI value was found to be less than 15 for all months and creeks, with the highest HPI value of 13.21 calculated in Başpınar Creek in February, c) The HEI values were found to be less than 10 (ranging from 0.02 to 0.84), indicating a low level of potentially toxic element pollution according to this index, d) In terms of irrigation water quality, all creeks exhibited a low level of PER, with the highest PER value of 13.54 belonging to Başpınar Creek, e) The detected potentially toxic element concentrations in all four creeks did not exceed the maximum EQS values provided. In this context, it has been determined that the potentially toxic element levels in creek waters, due to anthropogenic activities, are not currently causing significant pollution. However, it is noted that Başpınar Creek is at a higher risk compared to other creeks. Furthermore, because of the ongoing anthropogenic activities in the basin, long-term metal monitoring studies are important in terms of the sustainability of Lake Mogan.