Levels, Distribution, and Sources of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Sediments of Lake Eymir, Turkey


Gedik K., İmamoğlu İ.

ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY, vol.65, pp.203-211, 2013 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

Abstract

Little information is available on the occurrence and fate of persistent organic pollutants in lakes of Turkey. The present study was performed as a first step to assess the occurrence, spatial distribution, and potential sources of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in surface sediments of Lake Eymir located in a special protection area. I 41PCB pound concentrations range from 1.09 to 2.33 ng g(-1) in 62 sediment samples collected from the lake. The spatial homogeneity of the PCBs along the whole lake suggests the resuspension or redistribution of historic PCB contamination. A chemical mass balance (CMB) receptor model was used to identify the possible sources of PCBs, for which a limited number of congeners are available for modeling purposes. Results indicated Clophen A60 to be the major PCB source in lake sediments. CMB analysis also showed the importance of a number of compounds used for the assessment of source contributions.