Water Pollution Studies in the Rivers of the Edirne Region–Turkey M
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Water pollution studies in the rivers of the Edirne Region–Turkey M. Serdal Sakcali,1 Ruya Yilmaz,2 Salih Gucel,3∗ Celal Yarci,4 and Munir Ozturk5 1Fatih University, Faculty of Science & Arts, Buyukcekmece, Istanbul, Turkey 2Trakya University, Faculty of Agriculture, Tekirdagı,˘ Turkey 3Near East University, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nicosia, Cyprus 4Marmara University, Faculty of Science & Arts, Goztepe, Istanbul, Turkey 5Ege University, Botany Department, Bornova–35100, Izmir, Turkey ∗Corresponding author: [email protected] Physico-chemical parameters of Tunca, Merich, Arda and Ergene rivers, in the Edirne region of Turkey, were investigated. Studies were carried out during 1998–2004 and the data obtained were compared with EU threshold levels. The results showed that the total concentrations of P, Pb, Cu, Ni, Mn and Co were higher than these threshold levels. There is an urgent need for Turkey to limit water pollution from a wide range of dangerous substances, particularly at a time when it is being considered as an EU candidate. Turkey will be required to achieve a satisfactory status in its waters by 2015, in particular in the waters of the rivers investigated in this paper that border Bulgaria and Greece. Levels of pollutants which pose a significant risk to the aquatic environment need to be monitored and strictly controlled. Keywords: Tunca, Merich, Arda, Ergene, physico-chemical, trace metals Introduction they contain trace elements in concentrations above acceptable limits (Sawidis et al., 1995; Zhulidov, The excessive use of natural resources and ef- 1996; Shine et al., 1998; Yevseev and Krasovskaia, fluents resulting from human activity are damag- 2001). One of the states in Turkey facing this sit- ing aquatic habitats. As a result, mechanical, physi- uation is Edirne. The area is particularly important cal, chemical, organic and biological characteristics for the production of sunflowers, rice and wheat of waters have been adversely affected (Aksoy and all of these agriproductions are using water et al., 2005; Cetin et al., 2000; Ozturk et al., 2005; from four rivers: Arda, Ergene, Tunca and Merich Okonkwo and Mothiba, 2005). The pollutants com- (Fig.1). Indiscriminate discharge of various types ing from anthropogenic sources, surface and urban of effluents from different industries and domestic stormwater runoff containing metals from roadways sewage entering these transboundry rivers leads to and atmospheric fallout, domestic wastewater efflu- heavy pollution, which can produce detrimental ef- ents, industrial effluents and waste sludges enter the fects on water quality, agriculture, and in the long irrigation waters and are transported to the agri- run to human beings (Euroconsult, 2001; Sandwith cultural fields. These polluted waters may produce et al., 2001). During this study the variations in harmful effects on living organisms, particularly if the physico-chemical parameters of Arda, Ergene, 313 Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 12(3):313–319, 2009. Copyright C 2009 AEHMS. ISSN: 1463-4988 print / 1539-4077 online DOI: 10.1080/14634980903133757 Downloaded from http://read.dukeupress.edu/aehm/article-pdf/12/3/313/893397/313sakcali.pdf by guest on 24 September 2021 314 Sakcali et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 12 (2009) 313–319 Figure 1. Study area with the locations of the rivers and sampling points. Tunca and Merich rivers were investigated, to deter- The pH was measured on site with a portable mine the pollution status and safety levels of these pH/◦C-meter (Handylab 1 SCHOTT). The DO was irrigation waters. measured on site by means of a portable oxygen- meter, type WTW OXI-320. Measurements were Materials and methods calibrated using Winkler titration (Parsons et al., 1984; Bode and De Bruin, 1990). The study area, Edirne, with a total area of 23 The water samples were transferred to the labo- 2 485 km , lies in the European part of Turkey. It ratory in a portable refrigerator, where they were fil- is surrounded by the Black Sea and Bulgaria in the tered (0.45 µm) and stored in a refregirator (+4◦C). north, the Bosphorus in the east, Marmara Sea in the For the cation analysis, samples were acidified with south, the Aegean Sea in the south-west and Greece HNO3 Merck to a pH below 2. Measurements were in the west. There are four major rivers; Merich, repeated twice during the sampling day to avoid Tunca, Arda and Ergene in this area (Fig.1). Water the fluctuations of the physico-chemical parame- from these rivers is used to irrigate the fertile agri- ters arising from temperature differences. Chemi- cultural land around Ergene basin (Anon., 2005). cal oxygen demand (COD) and nitrates were de- The 492 km long Merich (Maritsa) River with a termined by colorimetry (EPA 410.4, EPA 353.2, 3 −1 flow rate of 157 m sec originates in Bulgaria, respectively) and the determination of sulfates fol- enters Turkey, and a 185 km track constitutes the lowed the turbidimetric method (SM 4500-SO4-E). state border between Turkey and Greece, reaching A blank was used before starting measurements and the Aegean Sea in Enez around the Bay of Saros. repeated after every 10 samples. Analysis methods River Tunca, with a length of 289 km and flow rate were tested with certified reference materials (for 3 −1 of 22 m sec also originates in Bulgaria, entering trace elements SRM NIST 1640). The detection lim- Turkey at Suakacagi Village (Edirne), joining the its for each of the elements were determined using Merich in Bulbul Adasi (Edirne). River Arda, also the lowest concentration of each of the elements that originating in Bulgaria, enters Turkey in Pazarkule gave the least detectable signal using flame AAS and joins the river Merich under the Marsh Bridge for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Six replicates of each of in Edirne. The 283 km long river Ergene with a flow these concentrations were prepared and analysed. 3 −1 rate of 14 m sec , together with its tributaries, Physical and chemical parameters were determined rises in Karatepe-Saray at the base of the Istranca according to the methods outlined in detail in the Mountains and joins the river Merich in the Bala- handbooks of US EPA (1993) and APHA (1989). bancik Village-Ipsala located in the south of Edirne. Water samples were collected randomly from fif- Results teen sampling stations located at these four rivers, on a yearly basis during 1998–2004 (Fig.1). Fresh The flow rates of Merich, Tunca and Ergene surface water (from a depth of 0.5 m) was collected Rivers are presented in Fig. 2a. Values recorded for from each site over a period of six years (1998– Merich River are higher than those from Tunca and 2004) using 1 liter polypropylene sampling bottles. Ergene rivers. The means of twelve months for each Downloaded from http://read.dukeupress.edu/aehm/article-pdf/12/3/313/893397/313sakcali.pdf by guest on 24 September 2021 Sakcali et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 12 (2009) 313–319 315 Figure 2. (a) Mean annual water flow (m3h−1) of the rivers, (b) Annual record of floods in the Meric¸ and its tributaries. year reveal that the highest flow rate was in 1998 the second highest value for these rivers. The pH in (628.416 m3 h−1) in the Merich because of precip- Tunca ranged between 6.8 and 8.16 and in Ergene itations above the mean. The data for Arda was not between 6.41 and 8.41. Where the three rivers meet recorded because it is just 1 km long. The floods that and join Merich River, the pH varies between 6.5 and occur around these rivers, in particular the Merich 8.2 (Fig. 3). The lowest value among the sampling River, are a great problem in the region (Fig. 2b). stations (6.1) was recorded for Merich in 2003 at Altough the strength of the floods in the last few station 12 (Kuplu). The highest value of pH (8.4) years has been comparably weaker than in 1984, was measured at station 9 (Uzunkopru) in 2002. the financial damage in both Turkey and Greece has The average values for each river were 7.16 (Arda), increased. Furthermore, these floods pose a great 7.48 (Tunca), 7.47 (Ergene) and 7.22 (Merich). risk for the city of Edirne as well as its suburban agricultural areas. Sulphate (SO4) −1 pH The lowest value of SO4 (47mgL )was recorded in the Arda in 2003 and the highest in Er- The lowest pH was measured at Arda (5.5) in gene in 2001 (235 mg L−1). The average values of 1998 and the highest (8.4) in Ergene in 2002. The Arda were very low during 1998–2003, whereas the abnormal pH value below 6 could be attributed to the values of the Ergene are the highest of all. In Tunca overuse of fertilizers in agricultural areas. In 2001 and Merich the values ranged between 88 to 184 mg −1 however, the pH of Arda gave a peak value of 8.22, L . The average SO4 values of the rivers Arda, Figure 3. Annual pH fluctuations in the rivers. Downloaded from http://read.dukeupress.edu/aehm/article-pdf/12/3/313/893397/313sakcali.pdf by guest on 24 September 2021 316 Sakcali et al. / Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 12 (2009) 313–319 Figure 4. Annual (a) Sulphate (SO4), (b) Nitrogen fluctuations in the rivers. Ergene, Tunca and Merich were 78.262, 177.70, age DO values of Arda, Ergene, Tunca and Merich 119.048 and 138.655 mg L−1 respectively (Fig. 4a). Rivers were 11.381, 5.928, 10.517 and 11.381 mg L−1 respectively. Total nitrogen Nitrogen fluctuations in the rivers are shown in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) Figure 4b.