Pine needle and semi-permeable membrane device derived organochlorine compounds (OCPs) concentrations in air in Mersin Province to Taurus, Turkey.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) were analyzed in three different ages (half-, 1.5-, 2.5-year-old) for needles and semi permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) at three deployment periods from sea level to 1881 meter above sea level. Individual HCHs concentrations ranged between 1.4 and 129 pg/g fw depending on the age and sampling season while 2.5-year-old needles showed higher HCHs levels compared to half and 1.5- year-old. Correlation between elevation and HCH concentration in SPMDs was found but not in needle samples. Concentrations of HCHs in SPMDs indicated clearly cold condensation effect on accumulation in winter period and increased with altitude. Concentrations of DDTs in half and 1.5-year-old needles were lower than 2.5-year-old needles. The highest total concentration of DDTs was detected in 1-year-period SPMD. Higher concentrations were found in 2.5-year-old needles for other OCPs. Seasonal and altitude-dependent changes were not observed for other OCPs in SMPDs. Total accumulation of OCPs in SPMDs were found higher than in needles. On the contrary, an increased accumulation rate was observed for HCHs in SPMD. In general, Total concentrations of DDTs and HCHs were similar to total of other OCPs in all altitudes when dominating endosulfan wasnot taken into account in the computation of total concentration of other OCPs.

The source of DDT and its metabolites contamination in Turkish agricultural soils.

The concentration and impact of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-ethane (DDT) and its metabolites (DDE: 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene) on the environment was expected to decrease after its ban in the mid-1980s. Unfortunately, DDT contamination via its presence as an impurity in dicofol (2,2,2-trichloro-1,1-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol) has led to a new source of contamination. This is particularly true especially in cotton production in Söke Plain, Turkey, where difocol-based pesticides are being used. The aim of this research was to investigate the extent and source of DDT contamination in cotton soils. Söke Plain soil samples were collected from 0-30, 30-60, and 60-90-cm depth and analyzed by GC/MS/MS. o,p'-DDT and p, p'-DDE were detected at 16.2 % and 17.6 % of the sites in the 0-30-cm depth of soils. In the 30-60 cm, p, p'-DDT (14.9 %), o, p'-DDE (8.1 %) and p, p'-DDE (2.7 %) were found in soil samples, and p, p'-DDT was the most prevalent with 9.5 % of the sampling sites. The dominant source of DDT particularly in the 60-90-cm depth was due to historic use of DDT. The presence of p, p'-DDE, o, p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT in the topsoil was attributed to recent dicofol applications.

Baseline of the spatial and temporal metal contamination in Dilek National Park, Turkey.

Dilek National Park in Western Turkey is a protected habitat for several endangered and threatened species. In an attempt to protect the endangered species, the park was classified as a World Heritage Preserve. Even with this change, the animal and flora variety are still at risk from previous metal contamination. Water samples were collected 10 cm below the water surface and sediment from 0-30 and 30-60 cm depth. Inorganic elements were found in all sediment samples. Sodium had the highest aqueous concentration (10,312 mg/L), while Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn were present at levels significantly lower than the chronic exposure criteria. Zn was the least prevalent (0.4 mg/kg) compound found in the sediment. The highest toxic contaminant concentration was Mg at an average of 1,100 mg/kg. The main contamination source of that seems to be Great Meandrous River. More studies are needed to develop a protection and remediation strategy for Dilek National Park.

Evaluation of pesticide contamination in Dilek National Park, Turkey.

National parks are used worldwide as a means to protect the ecological integrity of unique ecosystems. Dilek National Park in western Turkey is a protected habitat for several endangered and severely threatened species. Thirty-seven water and 59 sediment samples were collected and analyzed for pesticides at two different sampling depths. The park is contaminated with 16 different organochlorine pesticides, with more pesticides detected in sediments than in water. The most prevalent pesticides in the 30-60-cm depth were DDT (69.5% of the samples), heptachlor (62.3%), a-endosulfan (55% of samples), and endrin (37%). Lindane isomers were present, but at <30% of the sediment samples. These pesticides could be a long-term contamination source that enters the food web used by the very species the park is trying to protect.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) determined by pine needles and semipermeable membrane devices along an altitude profile in Taurus Mountains, Turkey.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed at different altitudes of Taurus Mountains in semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD) and in half-, one-and-a-half-, and two-and-a-half-year-old pine needles. SPMDs were deployed for three different exposure periods: March to September (Summer), September to March (Winter), and March to March (whole year) at eight sites where needle samples were collected. The values of PAHs in needles were between 4.4 to 6066 pg g/fw in half-year-old, 7.2 to 111,115 pg g/fw in 1.5-year-old, and 9.7 to 85,335 pg g/fw in 2.5-year-old needles. Mass of PAHs collected by SPMDs varied from

The occurrence and environmental effect of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Taurus Mountains soils.

PURPOSE: Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are of global concern due to their ubiquitous presence and toxicity. The occurence of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), -dibenzofurans (PCDFs), co-planar biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDT), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in forest soil collected from Taurus mountains may have adverse effects on the environment and health. The aim of the study was to investigate the outcome and distribution of POPs in the environment and the possible grasshopper effect along an altitude transect from sea level up to nearly 2,000 m a.s.l at a spatial distance of about 60 km in the southeastern Turkish Mediterranean Sea. METHODS: The samples were collected at a height of 121, 408, 981, 1,225, 1,373, 1,639, and 1,881 m above sea level from Taurus Mountains, Turkey. The results were confirmed using high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The levels of the PCDD in forest soil from Taurus Mountains varied from nearly 4 to 12 pg g(-1) dry weight (dw). PCDF concentrations ranged from 2 to 7 pg g(-1) dw. Considerably high DDT levels detected in five stations indicated (3,223-24,564 pg g(-1)) its extensive local application or atmospheric transport. PCB levels were determined between 80 and 288 pg g(-1) dw. HCH concentrations ranged from 141 to 1,513 pg g(-1) dw. The other OCP was between 102 and 731 pg g(-1). CONCLUSION: Although the use of POPs has been banned, our results show that they could still be found in Turkey. Their presence may be attributed to the degradation of pesticides which are newly banned and, as well as to the atmospheric migration and deposition. The lattitude of sampling sites, the chemical, and physical parameters of soil have observed no effect on the fate of POPs in the environment.

The use of olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaves as a bioindicator for environmental pollution in the Province of Aydin, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, olive tree leaves, collected from 50 sampling sites throughout the Province of Aydin, Turkey, were used to estimate level of pollution by measuring Al, As, B, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn concentrations and calculating pollution factor (PF) values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After sample preparation, collected leaves were microwave digested, and extracts were analyzed by an inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometer. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The maximum PF values were ≥10 for a number of elements ranging from 11-13 (Al, As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni) to >100 for Cu, Li, and Na. Urban-rural and roadside-nonroadside concentration comparisons showed that some of the elements (As, Cu, and Pb) were at significantly higher levels on urban and/or roadside sampling sites. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION: Correlations and factor analysis showed that there may be common sources for some elements, which included several soil types and anthropogenic activities. Based on the results of the statistical source apportionment, possible sources were narrowed down with help of the constructed elemental concentration maps. In conclusion, utilization of olive tree leaves for biomonitoring and assessment of environmental pollution was shown to be possible in the Mediterranean region where they are indigenous and cultivated.