The Investigation of Toxic Element Pollution and Radioactivity Analyses of Marine Sediments in the Gulf of Gemlik (Bursa, Turkey)

Abstract

In this study, the Toxic element pollution and radioactivity of marine sediments in the Gulf of Gemlik was determined. Enrichment factor (EF) and Pollution index (PI) analyses have been applied to determine toxic element pollution. According to the enrichment factor results, the EFNi in BH-1 was between 3 < EFNi < 5, and the other EF values are all below 3. In radionuclide analysis, the Ra-226 and Th-232 values were found to be below the global average value in all locations. It is estimated that the K-40 values, which are above the world average values in the BH-1 drillings, are due to the intensive agricultural activities in that part of the study area. Cs-137 values were found to be 5.3 Bq/kg in the BH -1/1 drilling location. This finding is very important in terms of environmental pollution. In other locations, samples have been found to be below the Cs-137 MDA. The K-40 value has been found to be the highest in Kur?unlu. The Th-232 value has been found to be highest in F?st?kl?, which was below the world average value. There is a parallel between Pollution Index, Enrichment Factor and Radioactivity analysis.