Metal levels in sediments and caged mussels in one of the industrial zones of the Eastern Aegean Sea.

Caged mussels make biomonitoring studies possible with their ability to take up pollutants in the industrial zones. The goal of this study was applied to assess metal levels in the biomonitoring organism Mytillus galloprovincialis Lamark, 1819 for transplantation from three locations for two periods (2016-2018) in the industrial zone of the Eastern Aegean Sea. Metals were also determined in sediments; high concentrations of Hg, As and Zn in surficial sediments of Nemrut Bay can cause hazardous impacts on the aquatic environment with respect to sediment quality guidelines. The highest contamination factor (Cf) was calculated for Hg (Cf = 10), suggesting serious anthropogenic pollution in the study area. According to Pearson product-moment correlation analysis, As is not correlated with other metals due to As mainly originating from natural sources. Hg, Cd, Pb and Cu concentrations increased in the transplanted mussels during a field transplant experiment because of chronic pollution from industrial activities. Cumulative effects of both the oil refinery and shipbreaking industry cause higher uptake of Hg, Cd, Pb and Cu in sampling station 3 as a result of higher exposure levels in transplanted mussels. Mussel consumption was compared with provisional maximum tolerable intake from literature; the estimated provisional intake (EDI) for Cd, Hg and Pb does not exceed maximum levels; however, Cu and Zn exceed reference EDI values. Since Nemrut Bay is heavily influenced by industrialisation, it is not a suitable region for seafood production.

Monitoring of heavy metal and organic compound levels along the Eastern Aegean coast with transplanted mussels.

Within the framework of the MYTITURK project, heavy metals and organic compounds contaminations were assessed in transplanted mussels in eight different bays from the Eastern Aegean coast. Izmir Bay, Canakkale Strait entrance, Saros and Candarli Bay were defined low pollution extent according to Principal Component Analysis taking into metal accumulation. PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) levels in the range of 29.4-64.2 ng g(-1) (dry weight) indicated that PAH contamination level classified as low along the Aegean coast. Concentrations of Aroclor1254 and 1260 were higher in transplanted mussels from Canakkale Strait Outlet due to industrial activities was originated from Marmara Sea. The organochlorinated pesticides such as heptachlor (<0.4 ng g(-1)), aldrin (<0.30 ng g(-1)), dieldrin (<0.75 ng g(-1)), endrin (<2.3 ng g(-1)) concentrations were homogeneous however, HCB (Hexachlorobenzene) and lindane concentrations were found undetectable level along the coast. DDE/DDT ratio in the caged mussels form Gulluk and Gokova Bay indicated recent DDT (Dikloro difenil trikloroethan) usage in these areas. The residues of organochlorinated compounds in transplanted mussels confirm the long persistence of DDTs. According to world health authorities, the concentration of heavy metals in mussels for the study area can generally be considered not to be at levels posing a health risk except Zn. The levels of POPs indicated that transplanted mussels have a lack of risk for the human health.

Geochemistry of the northern Cyprus (NE Mediterranean) shelf sediments: Implications for anthropogenic and lithogenic impact.

The concentrations of heavy metals and organic carbon in sediment were determined to evaluate spatial distributions from the three different regions of Cilician basin (Eastern Mediterranean) in 2011. The ranges of Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Cr, As, Fe and organic carbon contents of sediments from the study area were 1.6-74, 1.6-9.2, 5.0-78, 6.6-114, 1.6-17, 141-1241, 9.0-46, 3.3-55.4, 1800-84400mg kg(-1) and 0.99-1.66%, respectively. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, Co, Cr, Al were lower than those average crustal values, which indicated that there were no major sources of pollution for these elements. The results showed that the sediments of northern, eastern and western shelf were polluted with As, Ni and Mn, As and Cu, Fe, respectively. The contamination factor of Cu in the western and As were found to be of moderate contamination in the eastern and northern parts of the study area. Metal levels were evaluated in sediments in accordance with the numerical SQG of the USEPA.