Evaluation of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) outflows during the destruction of HBCD wastes in a hazardous waste incinerator.

This paper presents an evaluation of hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PBDD/Fs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) outflows during the destruction of HBCD waste stockpiles in IZAYDAS Hazardous Waste Incinerator (HWI) in Kocaeli, Türkiye. HBCD wastes containing 100 % pure HBCD were in 25 kg packages with 63 % Br content were co-incinerated in a 3-day test burn with average feed rate of 26 kg/h. HBCD, PBDD/Fs and PCDD/Fs were measured in the outlet streams to quantify the amount of unintended POPs releases associated with the processing of HBCD waste and to observe the POP removal performance of air pollution control equipment (APCE) of the incinerator. Total mass outflow rate of HBCDs is calculated as 2.6 g/day, corresponding to destruction efficiency of 99.9996 %. Total toxicity of the brominated dioxins was measured as 0.00044 ng TEQ/Nm3 on average, while highly brominated congeners are dominant. PCDD/F concentrations in the outflow streams during HBCD test burns are produced similar congener distributions with those given in the previous studies, with the dominance of 7,8-chlorinated congeners. Mass flows in the outlet streams indicated that the efficiency of ESP and wet scrubbers for the removal of PCDD/Fs and HBCDs. Flue gas concentrations of PCDD/Fs, HBCDs and PBDD/Fs obtained in HBCD burn test indicated that burning HBCD wastes cause no significant emissions as operational parameters and total halogen content in the menu are kept within the incinerator limits.

Ecotoxicological risk assessments and components of persistent organic pollutants and metals in the historical settlement area (Iznik (Nicea) lake) large water resource sediments.

The main objectives of this study are to measure permanent organic and inorganic pollutants in detail in an area that hosts historical structures underneath and feeds the huge ecosystem with water, to reveal risk values. Total PAH concentrations in the samples ranged from 43.41 to 202.7 ng/g. Total OCP concentration ranged from 5.15 to 17.98 ng/g, while total PCB concentration ranged from 0.179 to 0.921 ng/g. PCB 28/31, 138, and 153 are the highest detected PCBs. It was found that the lake sediment reached toxic equivalent quotient (TEQ) values of 29.21 for total PAHs and 28.90 for carcinogenic PAHs. Negligible concentration risk quotient had a low to moderate ecological and toxicological risk between 12.91 and 64.42. Highest pollution index value was found 3.81 and the risk index value reached 417.4. It has been revealed that toxicologically risky components accumulate over many years even in the best-protected water resources.

A comprehensive assessment, source input determination and distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) along with heavy metals (HMs) in reservoir lake sediments from Çanakkale province, Türkiye.

This study presents the distribution of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (HMs) in the sediments from four dams and two ponds in the Çanakkale city, Türkiye. The total concentration varied from 41.47 to 145.45 ng/g d.w. for PAHs; 1.40-14.96 ng/g d.w. for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and 0.13-3.31 ng/g d.w. for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The total polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (∑PCDD/Fs) concentrations varied between 7.35 and 63.46 pg/g d.w. The HM distribution in sediments ranged from 9.41 to 21.13 mg/kg d.w. for As; 0.20-0.39 mg/kg d.w. for Cd; 19.4-281.68 mg/kg d.w. for Cr; 23.50-118.25 mg/kg d.w. for Pb and 118.9-374.82 mg/kg d.w. for Zn. This paper also elucidates possible sources of POP and HMs in sediment by using diagnostic ratios. The calculated ratios were shown that anthropogenic input is the source of these pollutants in sediments. Principal component analysis showed that the low molecular weight of POPs is considerably related and correlated, while high molecular weight pollutants have made another group and highly correlated with each other. The results indicated that anthropogenic pollution is mainly related to atmospheric input. Anthropogenic pollutants are more apparent at Atikhisar and Bakacak dams close to urbanized locations. Rather than the anthropogenic impact, based on the measured data interpretation, the global climate change effect was seen in Bakacak dam. The overall concentration of all pollutants revealed that Atikhisar and Bakacak sediments are high-level polluted areas according to several types of sediment guidelines.

The first observation of antifouling organotin compounds and booster biocides in sediments from Samsun Port area, Black Sea, Turkey.

The distribution of antifouling organotin compounds (OTCs) and booster biocides in surface sediments of Samsun Port (Black Sea, Turkey) in September 2014 was investigated by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) method. The total organotin concentrations ranged from <1.0 to 669.6 ng/g, dw. Among the studied booster biocides, Diuron (<1.0-11.28 ng/g) was found in 70.58% of the investigated sediments, while Irgarol (<1.0-26.53 ng/g) was detected in two stations. Traces of fresh input organotin and high Irgarol were found at the park/repairment points of the port. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed that sediment characteristic types and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) were the main relevant parameters in the accumulation of antifouling contamination in the Port area. In comparison with several types of environmental sediment quality criteria, Samsun Port is highly polluted area. The concentrations of OTCs and Diuron maybe used as a baseline reference level for future monitoring programs in Turkish Ports.

Determination of 117 endocrine disruptors (EDCs) in water using SBSE TD-GC-MS/MS under the European Water Framework Directive.

The aim of this work is the highly sensitive determination of 117 contaminants in surface waters at very low concentrations. Gas chromatography-amenable priority compounds from the European Water Framework Directive (EWFD, 45 priority substances) and substances from the Turkish Regulation on the Management of Surface Water Quality (TRMSWQ, 250 substances) were analyzed. Almost a third to one half of the compounds in the TRMSWQ list were successfully detected in a single gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) injection. Analyzing these pollutants in water samples is difficult with conventional extraction methods. An efficient, easy and fast method for both extraction and analysis is thus important. Here, the stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) approach employing Twister® was used for analyte enrichment from 100 mL water samples. The Twister apparatus was used for thermal desorption. Compounds were separated via gas chromatography (GC) and detected by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) utilizing an Agilent 7000D MS instrument. The analysis method was comprehensively validated, and complied with the requirements of the EWFD and Turkish regulation for surface water quality for inland surface water. The method includes various endocrine disruptor compounds listed in the EWFD, such as polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatics hydrocarbons, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, phenols, phthalates and pesticides. The method is also applicable for the analysis of similar contaminants that are not on this list. The analyzed pollutants have varying polarities based on octanol-water coefficients and are extracted by SBSE. This method may be preferred for the analysis of pollutants with an octanol-water partition coefficient (log Ko/w) higher than 2. The SBSE method, which is easy, lab-friendly and quick, taking a total of only 2 h for parameter analysis, was optimized to reduce time and chemical usage. The entire extraction and analysis was completed in virtually 3 h. The limits of quantification (LOQs) ranged from 0.12 to 50 ng/L and complied with the requirements for analytical methods to be used in the analysis of the compounds included in the directives. Several quality parameters including linearity, trueness and precision were studied, with good results, and uncertainty was also estimated. Precision (in terms of relative standard deviation [RSD]) was lower than 40%, recoveries ranged from 60 to 120%, and determination coefficients were higher than 0.990 for all analytes. Graphical abstract.