Investigation of Soil Concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants, Trace Elements, and Anions Due to Iron-Steel Plant Emissions in an Industrial Region in Turkey

ODABAŞI M., BAYRAM A., ELBİR T., Seyfioglu R., DUMANOĞLU Y., Ornektekin S.

WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION, vol.213, pp.375-388, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 213
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11270-010-0392-2
  • Journal Name: WATER AIR AND SOIL POLLUTION
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.375-388
  • Keywords: Iron-steel production, Electric arc furnaces, Trace elements, POPs, Soil pollution, POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS, POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS, POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS PCBS, DRY DEPOSITION, ATMOSPHERIC CONCENTRATIONS, AMBIENT CONCENTRATIONS, BACKGROUND SOILS, GAS-EXCHANGE, URBAN SOILS, CHINA
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The spatial distribution of several air pollutants emitted from iron-steel industries in Hatay-Iskenderun industrial region in Turkey was investigated by measuring their concentrations in soil. Collected soil samples (n = 20) were analyzed for persistent organic pollutants (POPs; i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and polychlorinated naphthalenes), anions, and trace elements. Generally, all measured POP concentrations and marker trace elements for iron-steel industry (Zn, Pb, and Cu) were high relative to those reported previously for rural and urban areas around the world, and they were comparable to those measured recently in a similar industrial region (Aliaga, Izmir, Turkey). For all investigated POPs, elements, and anions, the highest concentrations were measured at points located north of the iron-steel industries where their emissions are transported by the prevailing southerly winds. The spatial distribution and levels of POPs, elemental, and anionic concentrations indicated that the iron-steel plants in Hatay-Iskenderun region are important sources for these pollutants. Statistically significant relationships between several organic and inorganic pollutants further confirmed that they are emitted by common sources (iron-steel plants).