Lead Accumulations in Biotic and Abiotic Components of Emet Stream, Uluabat Lake Basin, Turkey

Abstract

Emet Stream is one of Turkey's most important river systems. It is used for purposes such as irrigation water, industrial water supply, receiving environment for domestic and industrial wastes and fishing activities around the regions that the stream passes. The aim of this study is to determine the lead levels both in biotic (fish tissues) and abiotic (water and sediment) components of Emet Stream. Water, sediment and fish samples (Squalius cii, (Richardson, 1857); Capoeta tinca, (Heckel, 1843); Barbus oligolepis, Battalgil, 1941) were collected from eight stations (one of them is on the Kinik Stream and one of them is on the Dursunbey Stream) on the Emet Stream seasonally between the dates of November 2010 - August 2011. According to data, the lowest Pb concentrations of water and sediment were determined in El station (0.00307 mg/L and 10.48 mg/kg); the highest Pb concentrations were determined in E4 station for water (0.02503 mg/L) and in E8 station for sediment (48.53 mg/kg). Pb accumulations in biotic and abiotic components of Emet Stream were determined as sediment > fish tissues > water; the Pb accumulations in tissues of S. cii and B. oligolepis follows as, liver > kidney > gill > muscle; in tissues of C. tinca follows as, kidney > liver > gill > muscle respectively and it was also determined that biotic components of system were highly affected by the lead.