Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of geo-environmental problems of the Zonguldak province (NW Turkey)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Geology

Abstract

The Zonguldak province is a coastal settlement area that has been suffering from serious natural and human-induced environmental problems sourced by its geology and geomorphology. Since the province locates at the heart of a coal-producing basin, the geo-environmental problems related to mining activities such as esthetic degradation, disposal of mining wastes and subsidence of the abandoned coal galleries are badly affecting every day life in Zonguldak province. Disposal of municipal wastes is also a big problem since only one municipality out of 32 has a sanitary disposal area. The rest of the municipalities dispose their solid wastes to rivers or to the sea. The province has also some health problems, which are pointed out in the literature, related to coal mining and geologic environment. These are cytogenetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes and pheumoconiosis (most commonly seen at coal workers), goiter and cancer. Landslides are the most important hazards in the area since 13% of the total surface of the Zonguldak is affected by landslides. In this study, considering the hazard potential special attention is given to deep landslides and using the stepwise forward conditional logistic regression technique, the landslide susceptibility map for the Zonguldak province is produced. The results showed that the most important independent variables governing the landslides are slope gradient, volcanic, and sedimentary rocks of Eocene and clastic and carbonate units of Cretaceous. The landslide map is used as a base map for the production of geo-hazard reconnaissance map on which areas subjected to other important geo-hazards (flood, earthquake and subsidence) are also shown to provide guidance for both existing settlement areas to take the necessary preventive measures and for new developing settlement areas to avoid the problematic areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdel-Meguid AA, Fayed LA, Mostafa ME, Mostafa MS (1998) Geotechnical and environmental hazards in desert new cities: a case study of El Mina El Gedida site, Egypt. Nat Hazards 17:47–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Akcin H, Karakıs S, Buyuksalih G, Oruc M (2004) Gis based analysis of landcover changes arising from coal production wastes in Zonguldak Metropolitan area-Turkey. ISPRS, Istanbul, 12–23 July 2004

  • Altin R, Savranlar A, Kart l, Mahmutyazıcıoglu K, Ozdemir H, Akdag B, Gundogdu S (2004) Presence and HRCT quantification of bronchiectasis in coal workers. Eur J Radiol 52(2):157–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Andreas M, Allan A (2007) Incorporating geology and geomorphology in land management decisions in developing countries: a case study in southern Costa Rica. Geomorphology 87:68–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson PM, Massari R (1998) Generalised linear modelling of susceptibility to landsliding in the Central Appenines, Italy. Comput Geosci 24:373–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayalew L, Yamagishi H (2005) The application of GIS-based logistic regression for landslide susceptibility mapping in the Kakuda-Yahiko Mountains, central Japan. Geomorphology 65:15–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bayat O (1998) Characterization of Turkish fly ashes. Fuel 77(9/10):1059–1066

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Can T, Nefeslioglu HA, Gokceoglu C, Sonmez H, Duman TY (2005) Susceptibility assessments of shallow earthflows triggered by heavy rainfall at three subcatchments by logistic regression analyses. Geomorphology 72:250–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capar O, Yıldırım Y, Ozolcer, IH (2005) Slope stability analysis of uncontrolled municipal solid waste landfill site in the province of Zonguldak, TMMOB Turkish Civil Engineering Chambers, Geotechnical Symposium, Adana, Turkey, 26–27 Ekim 2005

  • Chiocchini U, Gisotti G, Macioce A, Manna F, Bolasco A, Lucarini C, Patrizi GM (1997) Environmental geology problems in the Tyrrhenian coastal area of Santa Marinella, province of Rome central Italy. Environ Geol 32(1):1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai FC, Lee CF (2003) A spatiotemporal probabilistic modelling of storm-induced shallow landsliding using aerial photographs and logistic regression. Earth Surf Process Landforms 28:527–545

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dai FC, Lee CF, Li J, Xu ZW (2001) Assessment of landslide susceptibility on the natural terrain of Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Environ Geol 40:381–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dean WT, Martin F, Monod O, Demir O, Rickards RB, Bultynck P, Bozdogan N (1997) Lower Paleozoic stratigraphy, Karadere-Zirze area, Central Pontides. In: Goncuoglu MC and Derman AS (eds) Early Palaeozoic evolution in NW Gondwana

  • Demirel F, Ozer T, Gurel A, Ozdemir H, Tomac N, Unalacak M (2004) Effect of iodine supplementation on goiter prevalence among the pediatric population in a severely iodine defiecient area. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 17(1):73–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Demirel F, Unalacak M (2003) Iodine deficiency disorder and effects of iodized salt. Sendrom 15(6):95–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Donbak L, Rencuzogullari E, Yavuz A, Topaktas M (2005) The genotoxic risk of underground coal miners from Turkey. Mutat Res 588(2):82–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Duman TY, Can T, Emre O, Kecer M, Dogan A, Ates S, Durmaz S (2005a) Landslide inventory of northwestern Anatolia. Eng Geol 77:99–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duman TY, Emre O, Can T, Nefeslioglu HA, Kecer M, Dogan A, Durmaz S, Ates S (2005b) Landslide inventory map of Turkey-1/500 000 scaled Zonguldak section, MTA Special Publication Series-4, 24 s [in Turkish]

  • Duman TY, Can T, Gokceoglu C, Nefeslioglu HA, Sonmez H (2006) Application of logistic regression for landslide susceptibility zoning of Cekmece Area, Istanbul, Turkey. Environ Geol 51:241–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorsevski PV, Gessler P, Foltz RB (2000) Spatial prediction of landslide hazard using logistic regression and GIS. In: Fourth international conference on integrating GIS and environmental modelling, Alberta, Canada, p 9

  • Gorur N, Monod O, Okay AI, Sengor AMC, Tuysuz O, Yigitbas E, Sakınc M, Akkok R (1997) Palaeogeographic and tectonic position of the carboniferous rocks of the western Pontides (Turkey) in frame of the Variscan belt. Bulletin Societe de Geologie France 168:197–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Gurer I, Ozguler H (2004) Flood disaster in Turkey—the case study: May 1998 flood in northwsetern Black Sea region of Turkey BALWOIS, Ohrid, FY Republic of Macedonia

  • Hansen LD, Fisher GL (1980) Elemental distribution in coal fly ash particles Environ Sci Technol 14–19:1111–1117

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kadir S, Onen-Hall AP, Aydın SN, Yakıcıer C, Akarsu N, Tuncer M (2007) Environmental effect and genetic influence: a regional cancer predisposition survey in the Zonguldak region of Northwest Turkey. Environmental Geology doi:10.1007/s00254-007-0826-3

  • Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (2007) http://www.koeri.boun.edu.tr

  • Lee S, Min K (2001) Statistical analysis of landslide susceptibility at Yongin, Korea Environ Geol 40:1095–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lynn TT (2002) “Coal workers” lung disease and silicosis. In: Alfred PF (eds) Fishman’s manual of pulmonary diseases and disorders, 3rd edn. McGraw-Hill, New York, pp 238–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahmutyazıcıoglu K, Turgut M (2003) Doppler evaluation of the thyroid in pediatric goiter. J Clin Ultrasound 32(1):24–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mejía-Navarro M, Wohl EE, Oaks SD (1994) Geological hazards, vulnerability and risk assessment using GIS: model for Glenwood Springs. Colo Geomorphol 10(1–4):331–354

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Menard S (1995) Applied logistic regression analysis. Sage University Paper Series on Quantitative Applications in Social Sciences, vol 106. Thousand Oaks, California, 98 p

  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry (2004) Report of environmental state for Zonguldak province [in Turkish], 337 p

  • Ministry of Environment and Forestry (2006) Planning Region of Zonguldak-Bartin-Karabuk, research report on 1/100.000 scaled environmental arrangement plan [in Turkish]

  • Ministry of Public Works and Settlement (1996) Map of earthquake regions of Turkey [in Turkish]

  • MTA (2002) 1/500 000 Olcekli Turkiye Jeoloji Haritası, Zonguldak Paftası, MTA Genel Mudurlugu Ankara

  • Nefeslioglu HA, Duman TY, Durmaz S (2007) Landslide susceptibility mapping for a part of tectonic Kelkit Valley (Eastern Black Sea region of Turkey). Geomorphology doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2006.10.036

  • Ohlmacher CG, Davis CJ (2003) Using multiple regression and GIS technology to predict landslide hazard in northeast Kansas, USA. Eng Geol 69:331–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ozmen B (2000a) Damages caused by 17 August 1999 earthquake of İzmit bay [in Turkish]

  • Ozmen B (2000b) Damages done to homes and working place by 12 November 1999 Duzce earthquake [in Turkish]

  • Saroglu F, Emre O, Kuscu I (1992) Active fault map of Turkey

  • State Meteorological Service (2007) Monthly total rainfall data for Zonguldak province [in Turkish]

  • State Planning Organization (2003) Research on listing of provinces and regions according to their socioeconomic development [in Turkish]

  • Suzen ML, Doyuran V (2004) A comparison of the GIS based landslide susceptibility assessment methods: multivariate versus bivariate. Environ Geol 45:665–679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turer D, Genc (2005) Experimentally determination of metal mobility in artificially contaminated soil colons and also determination the possibility of cleaning these soils by electroosmotic procedure, The Scientific and Technological Council of Turkey Research Project Report

  • Tuysuz O (1999) Geology of the Cretaceous sedimentary basins of the Western Pontids. Geol J 34:75–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulusay R, Tuncay E, Sonmez H, Gokceoglu C (2004) An attenuation relationship based on Turkish strong motion data and iso-acceleration map of Turkey. Eng Geol 74:265–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yıldırım Y, Ozolcer IH, Capar O (2004) A case study of rehabilitation of uncontrolled municipal solid waste landfill site in the province of Zonguldak 6th International Congress on Advances in Civil Engineering, Istanbul, Turkey, pp 2044–2053

  • Yıldırım Y, Capar OF, Ozolcer IH, Buyuksalih G (2007) Effects of industrial and municipal solid waste on Western Blacksea Coast. In: Second international conference on water and environment, Blida–Algeria, pp 328–336

Download references

Acknowledgment

The authors would like to thank to Tolga Pulat for giving permission to use his flood photos of Kozlu in the article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Engineering, Applied Geology Division, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, 06532 , Ankara, Turkey

    D. Turer & C. Gokceoglu

  2. Department of Geological Research, General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration, 06520, Ankara, Turkey

    H. A. Nefeslioglu

  3. Department of Geological Engineering, Applied Geology Division, Mersin University, Ciftlikkoy, 33342, Mersin, Turkey

    K. Zorlu

Authors
  1. D. Turer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. A. Nefeslioglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Zorlu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. Gokceoglu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Turer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Turer, D., Nefeslioglu, H.A., Zorlu, K. et al. Assessment of geo-environmental problems of the Zonguldak province (NW Turkey). Environ Geol 55, 1001–1014 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1049-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-007-1049-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation