Abstract:

Heavy metals, emitted from many anthropogenic sources, are the most common pollutants in the soil as a result of rapid urbanization. Heavy metal pollution in heavily urbanized areas are one of the important environmental problems due to their potential impacts on human health. Determination of the soil pollution potential is of great importance to utilization and protection of soil resources. Therefore, in this study, it is aimed to determine the spatial distribution of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) heavy metals and the sources of pollution in the surface soils of Büyükçekmece Basin. 40 soil samples with pre-determined coordinates by systematic random grid sampling method were collected from the study area in February 2016.  Geographic Information Systems and spatial analysis, used most frequently in determining soil contamination and spatial distribution in recent years, were used to determine the spatial distribution of heavy metals being studied. As a result of the study, it was observed that the concentration values of copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn), were high in the overall study area. Hazardous points in terms of contaminants had been identified throughout the study area. However, the highest values were generally observed around the lake in the south of the study area. For this reason, the study area was considered as highly risky in terms of ecological risks. It was concluded that the source of Cu, Ni, Cd and Zn pollution found in Büyükçekmece Basin soil was closely associated with industrial establishments and settlements.  

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