Composition and distribution of organochlorine pollutants in the sediments and mussels from the Istanbul Strait (Turkey)

Organochlorine pollutants are ubiquitous and persistent anthropogenic contaminants in the aquatic environment. Since these compounds have an affinity for particulate matter, they can accumulate in sediments and due to their lipophilic nature they tend to accumulate also in organisms. In this study, sediment and mussel samples from the stanbul Strait were analyzed for indicator and 12 dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), 17 dioxins/furans congeners and for organochlorine pesticides (OCs).

Samples contained different concentrations of PCBs and among these, congeners 153,75,105 and 118 in sediments and congeners 153, 138 and 118 in mussels were most abundant. The total WHO-TEQ values ranged between 0.01 and 17.8 pg TEQ pgg -1 dw in sediments and 0.98-1.01 pg g -1 in mussels. None of the sediment and mussel samples analysed exceeded the limits for safe values suggested in the sediment quality guidelines and set by the European Community for seafood intended for human consumption respectively. Regarding to OCs, B-HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), 4,4'-DDD, 2,4'-DDD and 4,4'-DDE were the major pollutants detected in the sediments; together they accounted for 69 % (average) of the total pesticide concentration. Heptachlor, t-HE (transheptachlorepoxide), aldrin in all and OCS (Octachlorostyrene), OXC (oxy-chlordane), endrin, (END)-I (endosulfan-I), mirex in most sediment samples were undetectable. Most OCPs investigated were observed in mussels and the residual levels were dominated by DDTs and HCHs.

Autor(en)

O.S. Okay, B. KaracÄ±k, Serden Bazak, Bernhard Henkelmann, Silke Bernhöft

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Publikation

2nd International Conference - 2009 (Juni 2009)

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