Spatial Distribution of Lanthanum (La) in the Pülümür Stream, Eastern Türkiye
Banu KUTLU , Serdar ÇETİNDAĞ
1Fisheries Faculty, Munzur University, TR62000, Tunceli, Türkiye 2Tunceli Provincial Health Directorate Tunceli, Türkiye
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) are increasingly recognized as valuable geochemical tracers for evaluating natural processes and environmental changes in aquatic ecosystems. Among them, lanthanum (La), a representative light rare earth element (LREE), provides valuable insights into the geochemical characteristics of freshwater environments. This study investigated the spatial distribution of La in surface water and surface sediments collected seasonally from ten sampling stations along the Pülümür Stream (Eastern Türkiye) between February 2022 and January 2023. Lanthanum concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP–OES) in an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory. Dissolved La concentrations in all surface water samples were below the analytical reporting limit (0.01 mg L⁻¹), whereas sediment La concentrations ranged from 10 to 18 mg kg⁻¹, with the highest concentration recorded at St9 and the lowest at St6 and St7. The predominance of La in the sediment phase indicates limited mobility under the prevailing hydrochemical conditions, suggesting that its distribution is largely influenced by lithology, weathering processes, and sediment transport. This study provides the first baseline dataset on La distribution in the Pülümür Stream and contributes to a better understanding of rare earth element behavior in semi-arid freshwater ecosystems, providing a valuable reference for future geochemical monitoring and environmental assessment.
How to Cite
Banu KUTLU et al. (2026). Spatial Distribution of Lanthanum (La) in the Pülümür Stream, Eastern Türkiye. MARFRESH – Journal of Marine and Freshwater Sciences, 1(1), 6–9.