LAUSR

The present study investigated two cores and fifteen surficial sediment samples in terms of chronology and pollution levels. Lead-210 (polonium-210) activity concentrations were measured through alpha spectrometry in Northern Turkish Aegean Sea. Sediment dating was conducted using lead-210 (CRS, CIC) mathematical models. Residence time of the 210Pb was calculated to improve the precision of the dating there. Average residence time of the 210Pb was 2.4 years and average sedimentation rate 0.237 ± 0.011 cm year−1 in the sea. Sedimentation rates along the cores exhibit irregular increases and decreases at the stations of Ayvalik Offshore and Bakircay River Mouth. Metal concentrations were assessed by means of pollution indexes (EF, CF, PLI, Igeo) and Lead-isotope ratios (206Pb/207Pb). According the Pollution Load Index, both Ayvalik offshore and Bakircay River Mouth have shown a starting level pollution from past to until recently. In terms of Geo-accumulation Index, both stations have Ca and Hg pollutions and the stations have had the “unpolluted to moderately polluted” pollution degree since 1995.