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.