ECOTOXICOLOGICAL PRACTICES OF ENVIRONMENT SEDIMENTOLOGY

1ST INTERNATIONAL BLACK SEA CONGRESS ON ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Giresun, Türkiye, 31 Ağustos - 03 Eylül 2016, ss.188-199

Sediments are the store where physical pieces and some chemical types of them and

these sediments have toxic substances whose concentrations are higher than water

column. The fact that the pivot of the metals among sediments – pore water – water

column phases shows that metals affect not only benthic life but also the pelagic

ones in the water columns. Many chemicals can be discharged on the surface water

from industries and some of these chemicals can stick to the sediments because of

their structure. Thus, the pollution in the sediment history in the depth of the rivers

can be seen even though the quality of the water increases. In these cases, there

will be another source of pollution for the river if sediment in the depth of the river

is eroded because of natural events or starts to be carried through the stream.

When heavy metals, such as Cr, Cd, Al, Pb, Cu, Al, Zn, etc., are in aquatic environments,

they cause a toxic effect on the life in the sediment layer. This effect is gathered in

the hydrophilous living creatures and is carried to the body of human beings via the food

chain and threatens their health. The amount of AVS (acid volatile sulfite) which is

for the determination and removal of the pollution caused by heavy metals in the

aquatic environment may be the indicator of potential metal toxics because it can

point out the outgrowth of the metal concentrations in the sediment layer. Generally,

trace metals related to the AVS is referred as metals which can be decomposed

simultaneously. The determination of AVS (acid volatile sulphite) and simultaneously

extracted metals (SEM) could be an important phase to determine the speed of

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toxic metals’ operativeness and to check their level of effectiveness. By comparing

SEM and AVS rate during oxidation in anoxic sediment to determine the effects

of metals, potential metal toxicity can be settled. In this study, literature research

for ecotoxicological observarían of sediments and evaluation of these sediments in

terms of heavy metal pollution is performed.

Keywords: Ecotoxicology, heavy metals, sediment, SEM-AVS relationship