Bulk heavy metal (Fe, Mn, Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb) distributions and their
chemical partitioning together with total organic carbon and carbonate data were
studied in 0–2 cm oxic to anoxic surface sediments, obtained at 18 stations
throughout the Black sea by Kiratli and Ergin (1996). Chemical partitioning of
the heavy metals revealed that Cu, Cr and Fe seem to be significantly bound to the
detrital phases whereas carbonate phases tend to hold considerable amounts of Mn
and Pb.
Coban et al. (2009) found heavy metals in sediment at significant levels of
0.47 μg/g for Cd, 67.95 μg/g for Cr, 30.21 μg/g for Cu, 274.4 μg/g for Mn, 37.03
for μg/g Ni, 39.14 μg/g for Pb and 84.6 μg/g for Zn, that were comparable with
those found in the estuarine areas of other countries in the region.
Topcuoglu et al. (2003b) determined the radionuclides
137 Cs,
238 U,
232 Th and
40
K and Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn in sediment samples collected from two stations at the
eastern Turkish coast of the Black sea. The result from this study showed that
radionuclide concentrations in the sediment fraction were significantly higher
because of the influence of collection sites. In general, the heavy metal concentrations in that study were not higher than those previously observed. However, Pb and
Cu levels increased in sediment in the Turkish area of the Black Sea in the
investigated years.
In conclusion, heavy metal pollution in the Black sea has attracted considerable
research attention since last 20 years. Sources of heavy metals in the Black sea
ecosystem can be mainly attributed to terrestrially derived waste water discharges,
agricultural and industrial run-off, river run-off atmospheric deposition of combustion residues, and shipping activities. It is clear from many studies conducted that
the heavy metal pollution in the Black sea should be taken into account. In the last
20 years, in some areas of Black sea, metal concentrations in sea water exceeded the
accepted levels. Especially, lead and cadmium levels were found higher in fish
species than the legal limit for human consumption. High levels of heavy metals
have been reported by the authors, suggesting that heavy metal pollution in algae
and sediments from certain regions of Black Sea is rather high.
The Black Sea is a unique ecosystem because it is an inner sea with low salinity,
half-isolated from the Mediterranean with hydrology and phytobentos different
from the other seas in the same biogeographic region.
The antropogenic contamination of marine ecosystems is a very important stress
factor and defines the necessity for systematic monitoring and control of contaminants (heavy metals – HM, radionuclides, etc.) that affect marine biota. The main
sources of Black Sea pollution are atmospheric fallout, the big rivers run-off as well
as local pollutant emissions (Tuncer et al. 1998).
Macrophytic algae, being one of the primary stages in the trophic chain, play a
major role in marine ecosystems (Kilgore et al. 1993). Algae interact with the
environment through processes that include chemical bioconcentration, excretion,
organic matter production and decomposition (Carpenter and Lodge 1986). They
have been used as a signal for the living status of marine ecosystems and considered
as valuable indicators for HM assessment in the major components of the water
ecosystems because of their accumulation capacity (Forsberg et al. 1988). Some
320
A. Strezov
chemical partitioning together with total organic carbon and carbonate data were
studied in 0–2 cm oxic to anoxic surface sediments, obtained at 18 stations
throughout the Black sea by Kiratli and Ergin (1996). Chemical partitioning of
the heavy metals revealed that Cu, Cr and Fe seem to be significantly bound to the
detrital phases whereas carbonate phases tend to hold considerable amounts of Mn
and Pb.
Coban et al. (2009) found heavy metals in sediment at significant levels of
0.47 μg/g for Cd, 67.95 μg/g for Cr, 30.21 μg/g for Cu, 274.4 μg/g for Mn, 37.03
for μg/g Ni, 39.14 μg/g for Pb and 84.6 μg/g for Zn, that were comparable with
those found in the estuarine areas of other countries in the region.
Topcuoglu et al. (2003b) determined the radionuclides
137 Cs,
238 U,
232 Th and
40
K and Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn in sediment samples collected from two stations at the
eastern Turkish coast of the Black sea. The result from this study showed that
radionuclide concentrations in the sediment fraction were significantly higher
because of the influence of collection sites. In general, the heavy metal concentrations in that study were not higher than those previously observed. However, Pb and
Cu levels increased in sediment in the Turkish area of the Black Sea in the
investigated years.
In conclusion, heavy metal pollution in the Black sea has attracted considerable
research attention since last 20 years. Sources of heavy metals in the Black sea
ecosystem can be mainly attributed to terrestrially derived waste water discharges,
agricultural and industrial run-off, river run-off atmospheric deposition of combustion residues, and shipping activities. It is clear from many studies conducted that
the heavy metal pollution in the Black sea should be taken into account. In the last
20 years, in some areas of Black sea, metal concentrations in sea water exceeded the
accepted levels. Especially, lead and cadmium levels were found higher in fish
species than the legal limit for human consumption. High levels of heavy metals
have been reported by the authors, suggesting that heavy metal pollution in algae
and sediments from certain regions of Black Sea is rather high.
The Black Sea is a unique ecosystem because it is an inner sea with low salinity,
half-isolated from the Mediterranean with hydrology and phytobentos different
from the other seas in the same biogeographic region.
The antropogenic contamination of marine ecosystems is a very important stress
factor and defines the necessity for systematic monitoring and control of contaminants (heavy metals – HM, radionuclides, etc.) that affect marine biota. The main
sources of Black Sea pollution are atmospheric fallout, the big rivers run-off as well
as local pollutant emissions (Tuncer et al. 1998).
Macrophytic algae, being one of the primary stages in the trophic chain, play a
major role in marine ecosystems (Kilgore et al. 1993). Algae interact with the
environment through processes that include chemical bioconcentration, excretion,
organic matter production and decomposition (Carpenter and Lodge 1986). They
have been used as a signal for the living status of marine ecosystems and considered
as valuable indicators for HM assessment in the major components of the water
ecosystems because of their accumulation capacity (Forsberg et al. 1988). Some
320
A. Strezov