Turgut I Balkas

Land-based sources of pollution along the black sea coast of Turkey: Concentrations and annual loads to the black sea

Abstract Concentrations of inorganic pollutants, pesticides and PCBs were measured in 42 sources including rivers, streams, and industrial and domestic discharge points along the Turkish Black Sea coast in three seasons of the year 1993. The measured concentrations were compared with water quality standards currently effective in Turkey in order to determine the levels of pollution in the rivers and streams. Concentrations were also combined with the water discharge data to determine annual loads of pollutants discharged from each source into the Black Sea. Concentrations of measured parameters were much higher in domestic and industrial discharges, as expected. Most of the rivers and streams were polluted with organic material, nitrogen and phosphorous species due to discharges of untreated domestic wastes into these streams. Metal concentrations measured in the rivers and streams were fairly low due to the lack of extensive industrialization in the drainage areas of the streams. Some of the small streams, including the Neyren, Kilimli, Zafir and Tabakhane streams, are heavily polluted and were identified as sources having the potential to generate hot spots along the coast. Annually, a total of 39.700 tons of nitrogen, 3.700 tons of phosphorous, 15 tons of Cd, 340 tons of Cu, 60 tons of Pb, 1.200 tons of Zn, 12 tons of heptachlor, 11 tons of aldrin, 31 tons of dieldrin, 180 tons of endrin and 500 tons of DDT are discharged from Turkish sources into the Black Sea. Except for trace metals, rivers and streams dominate the flux of pollutants. Large industries along the coast that discharge their wastes directly to the Black Sea account for a significant fraction of the annual metal discharges. Pesticides and PCBs were detected in most of the sources included in the study indicating their illegal use in agriculture. The Sakarya river was the most important source of pesticides.

Chemical composition of particles in the black sea atmosphere

Abstract Shipborne samples collected from the Black Sea atmosphere were analysed by instrumental neutron activation analysis, atomic absorption spectrometry and ion chromatography for approximately 40 elements and ions. Concentrations of most of the elements are found to be a factor of two higher in the western part of the Black Sea than corresponding concentrations in the eastern part. Main source regions for anthropogenic elements were in Europe. The WNW, WSW and SSW sectors together account for 70% of observed concentrations of elements. Principal component analysis showed a crustal, a marine and three anthropogenic factors. Two of the anthropogenic factors were the result of long-range transport of particles and the third indicated a local iron and steel industry. Atmospheric fluxes of elements to the Black Sea were calculated using observed concentrations, scavenging ratios and precipitation data and results were compared with riverine fluxes of elements. For crustal elements, riverine fluxes were found to be dominant, but for pollution-derived elements, atmospheric fluxes were comparable to riverine fluxes to the Black Sea.

DDT, DDE, and PCB residues in fish, crustaceans and sediments from the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey☆

Abstract Residues of DDE, DDT and PCBs were determined in four different commercial bony fishes: grey mullet, red mullet, striped mullet and gold bandgoat fish, as well as in shrimps, limpets and sediments obtained from the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The PCB levels in living organisms and sediments were found to be very low, and in most cases below the detection limits. The DDE and DDT values were relatively high compared to PCBs and there was a linear correlation between the organochlorine residue concentrations and the extractable organic material of the analysed samples.

Evolution of metal pollution in the golden horn (Turkey) sediments between 1912 and 1987.

The Golden Horn is a heavily polluted water body in a large metropolitan area with a population of approximately 10 million. A 3-m long undisturbed core sample was collected in the Golden Horn, from research vessel RV Knorr, during the third leg of the joint Turkish--American Black Sea expedition in 1989. The core was sliced and dated using the 210Pb isotope technique. The bottom of the core corresponds to the year 1912. Each slice was analysed for major, minor and trace elements by inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). The masses of the measured elements can account for approximately half of the sediment mass. The lithophilic elements Li, K, Rb, Mg, Ca, Ba, Al, La, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni account for more than 90% of the elemental mass and do not show any change in their concentrations between 1912 and 1987. Although anthropogenic elements Mo, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ag, and Cd account for a minute fraction of the elemental mass, their concentrations increase along the core, signifying human influence on chemical composition of the Golden Horn Sediments. Lead was enriched at the bottom of the core suggesting pollution of Golden Horn sediments by this element even at the beginning of the century, but observed concentrations of the remaining anthropogenic elements, at the bottom of the core, can be explained by sedimentary material. Concentrations of pollution-derived elements do not change significantly between 1912 and 1950, but their concentrations increase sharply in the second half of the century. A factor analysis applied to the data set has shown that the inorganic fraction of the Golden Horn sediments includes crustal, marine and two anthropogenic components. One of the anthropogenic components is attributed to the discharges from an iron and steel plant. The second anthropogenic component, which accounted for a larger fraction of system variance, is due to discharges from industries, particularly metalwork plants.

Trace metal levels in fish and crustacea from Northeastern Mediterranean coastal waters

Abstract Some fish and crustacea caught near the northeastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey between 1977 and 1980 have been analysed by the AAS technique for their H Hg, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Fe, Ni, Cr and Mn contents. In the crustacea Portunus pelagicus (crab) and Penaeus keratherus (shrimp), the two essential elements Zn and Cu, showed a linear correlation. Among the bony fish, Upeneus moluccensis (gold band goat fish), a member of the Mullidae family, and Portunus pelagicus showed a much greater tendency to accumulate Hg than other species. Although Cr concentrations in the sediments of the area studied were high, Cr levels in the organisms studied were found to be relatively low. The highly toxic metals Hg, Cd and Pb were found to be present in concentrations lower than those reported from other areas of the Mediterranean.

Pollution Chronology of the Golden Horn Sediments

Pollution chronology of the Golden Horn sediments has been established by the use of Pb-210 dating technique and metal analysis.

Trace element composition of the Black Sea aerosols

Abstract Shipboard aerosol samples collected from the Black Sea atmosphere were analysed for Al, Ca, Mg, Ti, V, Cl. I, Mn and Na, by using instrumental neutron activation technique. Concentrations of elements were intermediate between continental rural sites and remote marine sites. Back-trajectory calculations showed a general easterly flow. Observed enrichments of elements can be attributed to crustal, marine and anthropogenic sources. The (Mn) ncr /(V) ncr ratio showed differences with trajectory groups. The average (Mn) ncr /(V) ncr ratio was more representative of European sources.

Characterization of floating and sinking tar balls in the marine environment

Abstract Tar balls, according to their densities, the prevailing temperature and their degree of weathering, are observed as floating, sinking, or are washed onto the beaches in the marine environment. To characterize the differences between floating and sunken tar balls, samples were analysed by IR, H-nmr, GC and GC/MS techniques. Hexane, benzene and methanol solubilities as well as densities were measured. The degree of weathering of the tar balls was investigated in terms of the losses of n- paraffinic/aromatic hydrocarbons. The ratio of paraffinic/aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations was calculated by IR and H-nmr whereas pristane/phytane ratios were estimated from GC measurements. The comparison of some high molecular weight, but minor, components between the major n- paraffins was obtained from GC/MS measurements.

Mercury in water, organisms and sediments from a section of the Turkish Mediterranean coast☆

Abstract Samples of water, marine organisms and sediment collected along the Turkish Mediterranean coast in the vicinity of Mersin were analysed for total mercury. The levels of mercury found in the samples from this area are generally low in comparison with the levels found in other regions of the Mediterranean.

The Determination of Trace Metals in Marine Organisms by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract The application of atomic absorption spectrometry to the analysis of trace metals in marine organisms is described. The samples are digested with nitric acid in teflon decomposition vessels. Mercury is determined by the cold-vapor method while the other elements are determined by flame atomization or flameless graphite-furnace atomization. Several marine species of economic importance. are analyzed for seven trace elements.