Abstract: Degradational changes caused by rapidly increasing anthropogenic activities in recent years inlake ecosystems, which are crucial for biodiversity, have attracted attention. Potentially toxic element (PTE)contamination plays a significant role in environmental degradation in lake ecosystems. This study focused on the ecological risk along the tombolo shores of Lake Uluabat (Apolyont), one of Turkey`s important wetlands, where  Gölyazı settlement is located. Sediment samples taken from the lake bottom along the tombolo shore were analysedfor organic carbon and chlorophyll degradation products. Furthermore, the enrichment factor (EF), contaminationfactor (CF), modified contamination factor (mCD), toxic risk index (TRI), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk index (mER), and potential ecological risk index (PER) were calculated using PTE values determined by ICPMS. Based on the obtained data, the PTE concentration in lake sediments is in the following order: Fe (29200) >Al (21500) > Mn (962) > Ni (256) > Cr (101) > Zn (90)> As (39) > Pb (37) > Cu (31) > Co (20). According to EFdata, the enrichment level of PTEs is Ni (10.31) > As (8.24) > Pb (5.05) > Mn (3.12) > Cr (3.08) > Co (2.81) > Zn(2.58) > Fe (2.30) > Cu (1.88). The ecological risk level from PTEs is Ni (51), Co (41), Pb (25), As (24), Cu (10) and the average potential ecological risk level is 161. In the littoral zone around Gölyazı settlement, all PTEs except Cuare enriched to a certain extent. Ni was identified as the ecological risk source with highest risk in the lake. The mainanthropogenic risk sources in the lake, where a moderate ecological risk was identified, are agricultural, industrial,and settlement wastes.