Investigation of organic micropollutant pollution in Izmit Bay: a comparative study of passive sampling and instantaneous sampling techniques.

In this study, we used a comprehensive array of sampling techniques to examine the pollution caused by organic micropollutants in Izmit Bay for the first time. Our methodology contains spot seawater sampling, semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) passive samplers for time-weighted average (TWA), and sediment sampling for long-term pollution detection in Izmit Bay, together. Additionally, the analysis results obtained with these three sampling methods were compared in this study. Over the course of two seasons in 2020 and 2021, we deployed SPMDs for 21 days in the first season and for 30 days in the second season. This innovative approach allowed us to gather sea water samples and analyze them for the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Σ15 PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (Σ7 PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (Σ11 OCPs). Using SPMD-based passive sampling, we measured micropollutant concentrations: PAHs ranged from 1963 to 10342 pg/L in 2020 and 1338 to 6373 pg/L in 2021; PCBs from 17.46 to 61.90 pg/L in 2020 and 8.37 to 78.10 pg/L in 2021; and OCPs from 269.2 to 8868 pg/L in 2020 and 141.7 to 1662 pg/L in 2021. Our findings revealed parallels between the concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, and OCPs in both SPMDs and sediment samples, providing insights into the distribution patterns of these pollutants in the marine ecosystem. However, it is worth noting that due to limited data acquisition, the suitability of spot sampling in comparison to instantaneous sampling remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for further investigation and data collection.

Polybenzoxazine: a powerful tool for removal of mercury salts from water.

A reusable macroporous polybenzoxazine resin with high specific surface area was prepared as sorbent material for the removal of mercury salts. For this purpose, allyl-functionalized bis-benzoxazine was cured in dimethyl sulfoxide by thermally activated ring-opening polymerization at 180 °C for 3 d followed by a freeze-drying process. The porous structure of the resin was confirmed by SEM analysis and N2 adsorption/desorption studies at 77.3 K. Among various metal ions, namely, Pb(II), Fe(II), Mn(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Cd(II), the porous polybenzoxazine resin exhibited a specific sorption behaviour towards Hg(II). Mainly chemisorption and to some extent adsorption mechanisms were proposed for the observed high loading capacity of the resin. As evidenced by FTIR spectral analysis, the chemisorption is attributed to the coordination system formed between free OH and tertiary amino groups in the polybenzoxazine structure and Hg(II) ions. It was also demonstrated that the porous polybenzoxazine can be regenerated simply by treatment with acids. The resin was recycled for up to seven cycles without any significant loss of activity, as proved by sorption and desorption experiments.

Utility of melatonin on brain injury, synaptic transmission, and energy metabolism in rats with sepsis.

Melatonin is a powerful endogenous antioxidant hormone. Its healing effects on energy balance and neuronal damage associated with oxidative metabolism disorders have been reported in pathologic conditions. We aimed to determinate the utility of melatonin on neuronal damage, synaptic transmission, and energy balance in the brain tissue of rats with sepsis induced with LPS. Rats was divided into four groups such as control, LPS (20 mg/kg i.p.), melatonin (10 mg/kg i.p. × 3), and LPS + Melatonin (LPS + Mel). After 6 h from the first injection, rats were decapitated, and also tissue and serum samples were taken. Lipid peroxidation and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels were determined from the serum in all group. High energy compounds, creatine, and creatine phosphate are measured by HPLC methods from the homogenized tissue. Counts of living neurons are marked with NeuN (neuronal nuclei), degenerated neurons are marked with S100-ß and synaptic vesicles transmission is analyzed with synaptophysin antibodies immunoreactivities. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were used to statistical analysis. In LPS group, AMP, ATP, creatine, and creatine phosphate levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and also ADP levels were significantly increased compared with the other groups (p < 0.01). Living neurons counts were significantly decreased in LPS (p < 0.01), melatonin, and LPS + Melatonin (p < 0.05) groups compared with control. Degenerated neurons counts were increased in LPS group compared with control (p < 0.01) and also decreased in both of melatonin and LPS + Melatonin groups (p < 0.01). Synaptophysin immunoreactivity was decreased in LPS group compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). We observed that melatonin administration prevents neuronal damage, regulates energy metabolism, and protects synaptic vesicle proteins from sepsis-induced reduction.

Toxic metal (Pb, Cd, As and Hg) and organochlorine residue levels in hake (Merluccius merluccius) from the Marmara Sea, Turkey.

Toxic metals (Pb, Cd, As and Hg) and organochlorine residue levels were measured in hake (Merluccius merluccius) from the Marmara Sea. Biota samples were collected by a trawling cruise of the R/V ARAR in August and December 2009. The concentrations of toxic metals varied between Pb, 3.23-14.4; Cd, <0.01-2.14; Hg, 0.01-0.18 and As, 0.01-0.21 [Formula: see text]g g(-1) dry wt. Pb levels in the Marmara Sea were found to be higher than the critical limits set by the both Turkish Ministry of Environment for Aquatic Products (1 µg g(-1) wet wt.) and European countries (2.0 µg g(-1), UNEP 1985). In contrast, As and Hg levels were found to be lower than the critical limits for two periods. Cd contents of fish from the Marmara Sea were also comparable to or slightly lower than contents of fish from the Southern Black Sea Shelf. The results of organochlorine residues ranged between total HCH, <0.05 and 99 ng g(-1); endrin, <0.001 and 381 ng g(-1); alpha-endosulphan, <0.05 and 90 ng g(-1); beta-endosulphan, <0.05 and 15.3 ng g(-1); o,p DDE, 3.5 and 52.4 ng g(-1); p,p DDE, 7.4 and 139 ng g(-1); o,p DDD, 1.5 and 90.2 ng g(-1) and p,p DDD, 2.7 and 86 ng g(-1) wet weight. The rivers for the distribution of organochlorine levels in the Marmara Sea ordered from highest to lowest as Dil R. > Susurluk R. > Biga R. > Gönen R. The high levels of o,p and p,p DDE, and o,p and p,p DDD compounds, which are metabolites of DDT, indicate its illegal use. Toxic metal and organochlorine residue levels of fish are significantly higher than levels from the Mediterranean Sea.

Biogeochemical cycle of arsenic and calculating the enrichment factor by using Li element.

In this study, the biogeochemical cycle of arsenic in the Bosporus and the Golden Horn, which have a two-layer stratified structure, was investigated and the dominant feature in this cycle was observed to be the anthropogenic (domestic + industrial) activities. On the contrary, in the rural areas which are far from human activities, such as Igneada, the seawater-atmosphere interchange can be observed evidently in the periods covering the primary production.

Heavy metal concentrations in water, suspended matter, and sediment from Gökova Bay, Turkey.

The contents of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Hg) dissolved in water and suspended solids of Gökova Bay--partly and fully sampled in 2005 and 2006, respectively--are quite higher than the average values encountered in uncontaminated sea water. The high concentrations are associated with terrestrial inputs from the mining zones and anthropogenic (domestic+industrial) sources. Moreover, the distribution of Fe and Cu is affected by primary production because these elements function as nutrients in biological activities. The Cr, Ni, and Fe concentrations of surface sediments are above the shale average. The Cr and Ni contents of surface sediments representative of river mouths strongly correlate with total phosphorus contents. In a sulfide-poor environment, Pb and Cu were concentrated at a higher ratio in surface sediments than Cd, probably due to higher stabilities of their surface complexes with amorphous iron oxides and clay minerals existing as major components in the sediments. The exceptional enrichment of Zn may be attributed to double oxide formation with amorphous iron oxides in sediments. The high metal values are most probably caused by terrestrial inputs from anthropogenic sources and the mining zones at the southeast part of the bay. The Al, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Hg contents are below the shale average. The low values have possibly originated from the coarse-grained sandy sediments having a low affinity for metals. There are no distinct differences in the metal distributions in water and suspended matter between the years 2005 and 2006 in the bay, probably due to low sedimentation rates.

Total metal levels in crayfish Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823), and surface sediments in Lake Terkos, Turkey.

The aim of this study was to determine the total metal accumulation (aluminium, copper, manganese, lead, cadmium and iron) in different organs and eggs of Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz, 1823) and sediments total metal contents (aluminium, copper, manganese, lead, cadmium, iron, zinc, chromium, nickel) in Lake Terkos. Water and sediment samples were collected from two stations at two different depths (1 and 2 m) of Lake Terkos in May 2008. Crayfish samples were collected by trammel net at the same region. Primary hydrographic conditions, such as temperature (13.6-19.4 degrees C), salinity (0.27-0.34 per thousand), dissolved oxygen (7.04-12.30 mg l(-1)) and pH (7.42-8.51), were recorded for each sampling point. Moreover, the total organic carbon (1.65-5.44%) and the total calcium carbonate contents (19.44-41.16%) of sediment samples were determined. According to the Turkish Food Codex (J Zool 26:283-288, 2002), the maximum allowable Pb and Cd levels in crayfish are 0.5 mg/kg wet weight. Accordingly, the Pb and Cd levels determined in A. leptodactylus samples are below this limit. However, when compared with the acceptable metal limits defined by WHO, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council and Ministry of Agriculture in United Kingdom (UK), it is clear that the Cu level is at the limit and the Cd results exceed the limit. When the metal contents in sediment samples from Lake Terkos are examined, it is seen that the Al, Fe, Mn, Ni and Cu contents are lower while Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb contents are higher than the crustal average values. The high values draw attention to the land-based domestic and industrial inputs. Lake Terkos sediments have high enrichment factors (EF) of Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb metals which corroborate this result. The low EFs of Fe, Ni and Cu are due to the natural (terrigeneous) inputs. Additionally, there is no Al, Fe, Ni and Cu metal enrichment in these lake sediments because of the low contamination factor (CF) values. However, it is moderately contaminated by Zn, Cr and Pb, and heavily contaminated by Cd.

Levels of some toxic elements and frequency of bacterial heavy metal resistance in sediment and sea water.

The Golden Horn Estuary located in the Istanbul region of Turkey has been thought to be a heavily polluted area since the 1950s: the concentration of the elements, which include heavy metals such as Cu2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, Cd2+, and Fe2+, was therefore investigated in sediment and water samples of the area. The resistance of Enterobacteriaceae members to some heavy metal salts was investigated to determine levels of metal-resistant bacteria in the Golden Horn Estuary after the environmental restoration project in 1998. The sediment samples were collected with an Ekman-Grab in the period from November 2002 to February 2004 from depths of 4-15 m and analyzed by means of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Analyses of average heavy metals of sediment samples yielded the following results: 131.5 ppm Cu, 405.5 ppm Mn, 46.5 ppm Ni, 191.2 ppm Zn, 81.5 ppm Pb and 27668 ppm Fe. As with water, Ni concentrations in sediment were found lower than that in limit values. Frequency of heavy metals resistance to Cu, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb and Cd was detected as an average of 65.0%, 64.4%, 62.5%, 38.4%, 37.3%, 36.2% and 28.4%, respectively in a total of 192 strains isolated from sediment samples. It was observed that there was no statistically significant difference among the results of analyses with respect to sampling dates. Despite the environmental restoration project in 1998, our study results showed that heavy metal levels were still high in the sediment and this situation induced the tolerance of bacteria to some heavy metals.

The effect of Marmara (Izmit) Earthquake on the chemical oceanography of Izmit Bay, Turkey.

After the Marmara (Izmit) Earthquake (magnitude 7.4) on 17 August 1999, chemical oceanographical characteristics of Izmit Bay were investigated in order to examine the possible effects of the refinery fire and uncontrolled entrance of domestic wastes to the surface waters. The dissolved oxygen (DO) content of the water column in August 1999 was the lowest value of all the measurement periods. It was found to be lower than the detection limit of the method (0.03 mgl(-1)) in the lower layer of eastern and central basins of the Bay, whereas the dissolved hydrogen sulfide (DHS) values were high, varying between 0.14 and 1.28 mgl(-1). The deficiency of DO and in turn formation of DHS were caused by the spreading petroleum from the refinery fire onto the sea surface and waste loads from the damaged municipal waste effluent system. The increasing organic/inorganic loads into the Bay stimulated the phytoplankton blooms which cause locally saturated DO concentrations in the eastern basin during autumn 1999. DO concentrations increased in lower layer waters during winter, whilst DHS formation disappeared when water originating from the Marmara Sea replenish the water column of Izmit Bay. However, DHS formation established again in August 2000.

T-PAH contamination in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lamarck, 1819) at various stations of the Turkish Straits System.

Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Turkish Straits Systems were analyzed for sixteen parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contents by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This marine organism was selected because of its multitude, wide distribution, being bio indicator for the pollution and consumption by humans. Total PAH concentrations ranged from 1.2 to 589 µg g(-1) in Istanbul Strait, 0.94-36.4 µg g(-1) in Marmara Sea and 0.4-47.9 µg g(-1) in Çanakkale Strait during the samplings. According to the results Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits are more polluted than the Marmara Sea.

Toxic metal (Pb, Cd and Hg) levels in the nearshore surface sediments from the European and Anotolian Shores of Bosphorus, Turkey.

In this study, some toxic metal such as Pb, Cd and Hg analyzes have been done in the nearshore surface sediments. Sediment samples have been collected from five parts from the European and Anotolian Shores of the Bosphorus during 2003-2004. Total Pb, Cd and Hg contents vary between <0.01 µg g(-1) and 238 µg g(-1); <0.01 µg g(-1) and 0.92 µg g(-1); 0.001 µg g(-1) and 0.45 µg g(-1), respectively. Contamination Factor (CF) values of Pb and Cd range between 1 and 3 whilst CF values of Hg are lower than 1 in all the stations. It means that there are no Hg metal enrichment by natural or anthropogenic inputs contrary to moderately contamination for Pb and Cd metals throughout the Bosphorus sediments.

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of the Southern Black Sea Shelf, Turkey.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contents and some aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations were analysed in coastal sediments of hot points collected from along the Southern Black Sea Shelf. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surface sediment (0-2 cm) samples were collected from the locations using a Van Veen type grab sampler in September 2008 during a cruise on the Pollution Monitoring R/V ARAR. All sampling procedures were carried out according to internationally recognized guide-lines (UNEP 1991). Samples were analysed using a UV-fluorescence spec-trophotometry (UNEP/IOC/IAEA 1992) and gas chromatog- raphy (GC) via a Hewlett-Packard HP6890N series with a selective detector (GC-MSD) after hexane/ dichloromethane extraction. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The ratio C(17)/C(18) varied between 2.2 and 2.9 for the surface sediments of TRK 34Y (Samsun), TRK46 (Giresun), and TRK55 (Rize), respectively. These results showed higher marine organic matter accumulation. However, pyrolytic PAHs were found predominant in these areas. In contrast, petrogenic contributions were found at Stations TRK1 (Igneada), TRK13 (Zonguldak), TRK53 (Trabzon) and TRK61 (Hopa). TPH contents of surface sediments varied between 0.29 and 363 µg g(-1) (dry wt) throughout the shelf. The lowest values were measured at Stations TRK1 (Igneada) and TRK 19 (Bartin), whereas the highest values were found at Stations TRK13 (Zonguldak) and TRK 53 (Trabzon).