Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
ACTA GEOPHYSICA, cilt.73, ss.5907-5927, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
The decline in potable water sources due to climate change and pollution underscores the importance of monitoring potential water sources near major settlements for sustainable water management. Surface sediment quality serves as a key indicator of pollutants like heavy metals, which significantly affect environmental and human health. Effective watershed management requires identifying contamination sources and understanding the long-term ecological and health risks posed by these pollutants in sediment. This study examines heavy metal and metalloid (As) presence in surface sediments of the Goksu and Canakdere rivers, which are located within the same watershed and are potential water sources for Istanbul. A total of 24 sediment samples from both rivers, collected in dry and wet seasons, were analyzed for As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Sediment quality, human health risks (via hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI)), and pollution levels were assessed using ecological risk indices, including the geo-accumulation index, enrichment factor, and potential ecological risk index. Statistical analyses identified potential metal sources. Results showed high pollution, especially in agricultural areas, with average concentrations of As, Cu, Ni, and Pb in Goksu (16.90, 24.05, 18.72, and 27.96 mg/kg) and Canakdere (20.18, 30.02, 20.20, and 30.16 mg/kg). Surface runoff during the wet season intensified contamination. Ecological risk analyses confirmed severe pollution, and HQ and HI values indicate higher non-carcinogenic health risks for children. These findings highlight the need to prevent agricultural pollutants from contaminating the rivers and underscore the importance of monitoring sediment quality in watershed management.