Bat, LeventSahin, FatihOztekin, AysahOzsandikci, UgurOzkan, Ebru Yesim2025-03-232025-03-2320242352-4855https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2024.103561https://hdl.handle.net/11486/6080This study was carried out to determine metal levels accumulated in the sediments collected from the transitional and coastal waters of the southern Black Sea. Samples were taken from 32 stations in May and September 2018. The concentrations of elements were measured by an Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICPMS). Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo -accumulation Index (Igeo), Pollution Load Index (PLI), Contamination Factor (C f ), and Modified Degree of Contamination (mC d ) were applied to the data for assessing the sediment quality. Associations between the variables were also revealed by factor analysis. Igeo of metals are obtained in coastal sediments only when Hg in May and Cr in September are classified as moderately polluted. PLIs exceeded one at stations in the industrial zone, indicating getting worse. It is necessary to prevent pollution from industrial, domestic, and agricultural sources and to control agricultural lands.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccessBlack SeaEnrichment FactorGeo-accumulation IndexPollution Load IndexContamination FactorContamination DegreeFactor AnalysisArticle7510.1016/j.rsma.2024.103561Q1WOS:001239628600001Q2