Uptake of Silver From Large Silver Deposits on Biotic and Abiotic Components of the Closest Lothic System: Felent Stream, Turkey

Abstract

In the present study, water, sediment, diatom (epipelic), plant (Lemna trisulca), benthos (Gammarus sp. and Hirudo sp.) and fish samples (Alburnus escherichii and Gobio sakaryaensis) were collected from Felent Stream (closest lothic system to an important silver mine of Turkey) to determine the natural and anthropogenic effects. Cluster Analysis, Boxplot Deviation Diagrams and One Way ANOVA Test were applied to evaluate the data. Extreme silver contaminations were detected both in biotic and abiotic components of Kopruoren Village. The highest silver level was recorded as 7.98 mg/kg in sediment of stream in spring season. Significant increases of silver levels were determined in spring and autumn seasons in water of entire basin. Silver bioaccumulations in tissues of A. escherichii and a sakaryaensis followed the order: liver > gonad > gill > muscle. Significant differences were found in Gammarus sp. (0.026 - 0.234 mg/kg) and L. trisulca (0.009 - 0.206 mg/kg) collected from uncontaminated source of stream and Kopruoren Village (contaminated) and in Hirudo sp. (under the detection limit - 0.05 mg/kg) collected from source of stream and solid waste storage area. Also silver bioaccumulations in epipelic diatom frustules of Yoncali Village (after discharge of mine) were significantly higher than uncontaminated stations (an average of 7 times). It was also found that solid waste disposal site of Kutahya Province was an important source of silver pollution whereas Enne Dam Lake was a significant barrier for silver accumulation and biomagnification downstream of basin.