Heavy metals and natural radioactivity concentration in sediments of the Mediterranean Sea coast.

Heavy metal assessment and natural radioactivity determination in sediments of North Cyprus (Mediterranean coast) were carried out using different analysis methods. The average activity concentrations (range) of 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K were found to be 20.1 (30.6-9.2) Bq kg-1 dry weight, 18.4 (26.9-12.4) Bq kg-1 dw, and 467.3 (619.9-147.6) Bq kg-1 dw, respectively. The average activity concentrations of 226 Ra and 232 Th in the sediment samples were less than the acceptable limits, whereas the average activity concentration of 40 K in the sediment samples was higher than the worldwide average concentration. With regard to the studied heavy metals, the corresponding decreasing average concentration orders were found to be Mn > Zn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb. The heavy metal concentration values that were determined for sediment samples were compared with the values obtained in other studies. According to contamination indexes, the results (except for Cu in S-9) indicated no significant contaminated area.