The heavy metal pollution of Lake Sapanca located in the Marmara region (Tu
rkey), was investigated over time. The lake is the drinking water source of
the city of Adapazari and its environs. The D-80 (TEM) motorway passes abo
ut 5 km along the lake's zero point in the Sapanca district. The motorway's
wastewater drainages have been connected to the lake without having been s
ubjected to any wastewater treatment. The motorway was opened to service in
October 1990. Analyses were performed in 1991 and were repeated in 1999 in
order to observe changes in Pb, Fe and Zn contents. Samples were collected
from the ends of the drainage channels opening into the lake and metals we
re determined using flame atomic absorbtion spectrophotometry (FAAS). Accor
ding to the results obtained, Zn levels were found to be lower than the lim
its. However, Pb and Fe concentrations increased significantly at all point
s and exceeded the limit values. The concentrations of Pb and Fe may be ris
ing in the lake, and hence there is a need for continued monitoring of the
levels of toxic heavy metals in the lake.