Metal contamination in Euphrates headwater sediments: Integrated risk assessment and PMF-based source apportionment in a geologically complex basin
Küçük Resim Yok
Tarih
2026
Yazarlar
Dergi Başlığı
Dergi ISSN
Cilt Başlığı
Yayıncı
Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science
Erişim Hakkı
info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
Özet
Rivers are among the ecosystems most vulnerable to human activities, and mining is a major global source of metal pollution. This study assessed the concentrations of 14 metals in surface sediments of the Karasu River Basin, an important headwater of the Euphrates River in eastern T & uuml;rkiye, following a recent gold mine failure. This research represents the first comprehensive post-failure assessment of sediment metal contamination in the Karasu River Basin, integrating sediment quality guidelines (TEC/PEC), multiple pollution and ecological risk indices, and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) source apportionment. Nickel and Cr emerged as the most critical contaminants, with Ni concentrations reaching up to 917 mg/kg and Cr up to 336 mg/kg. All Ni concentrations and 85% of Cr concentrations exceeded PEC thresholds (48.6 mg/kg for Ni and 111 mg/kg for Cr), indicating considerable ecological risk. In contrast, 30% of As and 35% of Cu concentrations fell within the TEC-PEC range. Spatial and cluster analyses identified sites K1 (near Erzincan province) and K9 (& Ccedil;alt & imath; Stream) as the most contaminated, primarily influenced by mining and wastewater inputs. The PMF model identified four principal metal sources, with mining activities suggested as a major contributor to Ni, Cr, and Co pollution, while natural geological contributions cannot be entirely excluded. Overall, the findings highlight the significant influence of mining on sediment quality and emphasize the need for continuous monitoring, stricter regulation, and targeted remediation to protect aquatic ecosystems and downstream communities.
Açıklama
Anahtar Kelimeler
Sediment Metal Contamination, Ecological Risk, Mining Impact, Pmf Source Apportionment, Karasu River Basin
Kaynak
Environmental Research
WoS Q Değeri
Q1
Scopus Q Değeri
Q1
Cilt
301
