Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surface sediments from the Eastern Aegean: assessment and source recognition of petroleum hydrocarbons

GÖNÜL L. T., Kucuksezgin F.

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH, vol.19, no.1, pp.31-41, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11356-011-0524-2
  • Journal Name: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.31-41
  • Keywords: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Aliphatic hydrocarbons, Sediment, Pollution, Molecular ratios, Eastern Aegean Sea, MARINE-SEDIMENTS, OIL-SPILL, SEA, BAY, PAHS, PERYLENE, ORIGIN, METAL
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Materials and methods Aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surficial sediments from the Aegean Sea in the Eastern Mediterranean in 2008. Results Total aliphatic hydrocarbons (n-C12 to n-C35) ranged from 330 to 2,660 ng g(-1) dry weight (dwt), while aromatics (19 PAHs) varied between 73.5 and 2,170 ng g(-1) dwt. Total concentrations of both aliphatic hydrocarbons and PAHs ranged from a relatively low to a moderate PAHs pollution compared to other urbanized coastal areas worldwide. PAH consisted mainly of pyrolytic four-to five-ring compounds. Both pyrolytic and petrogenic PAHs are present in most samples, although petroleum-derived PAH are dominant at Izmir Inner Bay (IIB) and Dardanelles Strait, and pyrolytic sources are prevalent in other sampling sites. A high contribution of perylene, a diagenetic originated PAH, to the total penta PAHs was found greater than 70% in Meric River Estuary, Dikili Bay, Candarli Bay, and Gokova Bay sites.