Evaluations of heavy metal pollution in sediment and Mullus barbatus from the Izmir Bay (Eastern Aegean) during 1997-2009

► This study represented long term data and temporal variability of metals in fish and sediment of Izmir Bay. ► ANOVA demonstrated that there are significant regional variations during 1997-2009. ► EFs showed that a significant portion of Hg, Cr, Zn, Ni and Pb were provided by anthropogenic sources. ► The limit value for human consumption of metals, metal concentrations in muscle of fish appear to be low.