AN EXAMINATION OF ECOLOGICAL AND STATISTICAL RISK ASSESSMENT OF TOXIC METALS IN SEDIMENTS AT SIDDIKLI DAM LAKE: A CASE STUDY IN KIRSEHIR, TURKEY

This study was carried out in order to examine heavy metals concentration in sediment of Siddikli Dam Lake in Kirsehir, Turkey. The surface sediment samples from four stations in the Siddikli Dam Lake were collected seasonally from September 2015 to August 2016. Concentrations of selected metals were determined using ICP-MS. Descriptive statistical analysis including One-way ANOVA, significance (0.05) was done. Important differences in the mean values were tested using Tukey's multiple range test. Moreover, Principal component analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied to the data of the dam lake. The degree of metal contamination is compared with the standard shale values. The result of sediment enrichment factor, pollution loading index, and geoaccumulation index reveals that the surface sediments of the dam lake are not polluted. Thus, this study aims to identify the main pollution factors as well as the regions of the lake that are at risk. Moreover, significant correlations between the measured concentrations of the all heavy metals in the sediment samples were observed. It can be concluded that the heavy metal pollution level is low at Siddikli Dam Lake, however it will be good to adopt protective measures before it is too late.