Recent sediments as a trap for the trace metals in an estuarine and coastal marine environment, Turkey.

The sediments of the lower reachs of the Melez and Arap rivers and its estu ary in Izmir Bay were highly polluted by trace metals released by the adjac ent industries. The contamination was highest in sediment deposition area o f the harbour and decreased to western Bay. Metals trapped in sediments of the lower reach of Melez and Arap rivers can reach the marine environment t hrough bottom transport of sediment particles and also as a result of dispo sal at sea of dredge spoils from harbour area. On the basis of the findings of the study, it was recommended to stop the long time practice of dumping dredge spoils from the Harbour into the relatively clean outer Bay. The go al of the study is to assess the environmental state of the region, as far as heavy metal pollution is concerned, and to answer to questions related t o the impact of domestic and industrial waste disposal through a central se wage outfall system, which will be completed soon.