Factor analysis in the geochemical studies along the Gediz river, Turkey

Water samples collected from 321 sampling points at I km intervals at a sit e located close to the industrial and geological areas in the Gediz river w ere analysed for U, Ra, Na, Mg, Mn, K. Ni, Cd, Co, Pb, Al, Fe, Cr, Zn, Cu a nd Ca. Heavy metal concentrations in the samples were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, laser excited fluorescence, and radon collector ch amber. Factor analysis was used to describe the relationship among 16 eleme nts. Four factors were extracted and they account for 67% of the total vari ance in the data. These factors are named as industry, sea, agriculture and geology. According to this result, not only industrial plants but also geo logical structure and agricultural activities were seen to contribute in po lluting of the river water. Beside, these factors have shown that a lot of agricultural activities and a sharp increase in the population of the Gediz basin, and industrial development related to above reasons speed up pollut ion of water sources and become a potential risk on the unpolluted sources.