he correlation matrix was calculated in order to examine the relationship between the metals in Table S6. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that Cr was significantly correlated with Fe (r 0.443), and Ni (r 0.824) and Fe was significantly correlated with Ni (r 0.420), Cu (r 0.741), and Zn (r 0.373), and Cu was significantly correlated with Zn (r 0.386), and Zn was significantly correlated with Pb (r 0.451), and As was significantly correlated with Pb (r 0.510). According to the study published by Tholkappian et al. (2018), if the correlation coefficient between heavy metal factors is found to be positive, these factors may have a common source, interdependence and the same behavior during transport. These important and significantly strong correlations indicate that these metals in the soil of Sinop are derived from similar sources, mainly originating from anthropogenic activities. But, a significant moderate negative correlations exist between Cr and Pb (r 0.235, P < 0.01), Cr and height (r 0.229, P < 0.01), Ni and As (r 0.217, P < 0.01), Pb and height (r 0.225, P < 0.01). This shows that Cr and Pb, Ni and As originate from different sources. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, the differences be- tween the stations in Cr, Fe, and Cu concentrations were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). According to the results of the One Way Anova test, the differences between the stations at Ni, Zn, As and Pb concentrations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05).