Environmental risk assessment and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in sediments and macroalgae (Enteromorpha sp.) along the Mersin Coast (Türkiye), Northeastern Mediterranean Sea

In this study, ecological risk assessment and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in recently obtained sediment and macroalgae (Enteromorpha sp.) samples along the Mersin coast were determined. Potential health risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments and macroalgae were also determined in the study region. Study findings showed that the measured metal concentrations of the obtained sediment and macroalgae samples ranged between 1.36 and 5.66 g/kg for Al, 1.58-21.88 mg/kg for Co, 0.02-0.83 mg/kg for Cd, 6.56-82.51 mg/kg for Cr, 2.16-7.57 mg/kg for Cu, 1.12-7.89 g/kg for Fe, 47.90-355.48 mg/kg for Mn, 14.05-370.68 mg/kg for Ni, 0.53-9.06 mg/kg for Pb and 9.98-30.79 mg/kg for Zn, respectively, with the lower values generally recorded for the macroalgae samples. Ecological risk assessment suggested that the sediments along the Mersin coast were moderately to significantly contaminated for the heavy metals Co, Cd, Cr and Ni. The calculated health risk indiced showed significant health hazards from the carcinogenic Cr, Cu and Ni for sediments and Cr and Ni for macroalgae, respectively. Furthermore, the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) indicated that the metals Al, Cd, Cu and Zn (BAF>1.00) were accumulated in the macroalgae, strongly suggested that macroalgae consumption may pose significant health hazards to human health.