Spatial distribution of dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater and sediments from the Mediterranean coastal area of Türkiye

Selma Ünlü, Elif Özgür

ORCID ID(s): S.Ü. 0000-0002-9156-4332; E.Ö. 0000-0001-5699-7565

Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Istanbul University, 34134 Istanbul, TÜRKİYE
Turkish Marine Research Foundation, P.O. Box: 10, Beykoz, 34820, Istanbul, TÜRKİYE

Abstract

In this study, the distribution of dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPHs) in coastal water and sediments from the western coastline of Antalya Gulf (Mediterranean Sea, Türkiye) in December 2018 and in May 2019 was investigated by the UV-fluorescence spectroscopy method. The hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from 4.6 to 9.1µg/L (Thetis-Oil equivalents) for coastal waters and from 6.5 to 11.2 µg/g, dry weight (Thetis-Oil equivalents) for sediments, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between petroleum hydrocarbons and physico-chemical parameters measured in seawater (except pH; r=−0.62, p< 0.05). When compared with various environmental hydrocarbon pollution criteria, the levels found in this study indicated that the coastal waters and sediments were considerably polluted. Intensive maritime activities, ship and boat traffic increased tourist influx, oil spills from ships, illegal discharge of oily wastewater, increase in population density, runoff, and atmospheric fallout during rainy periods were considered the main causes of local hydrocarbon pollution in the region. The findings suggest that regional monitoring programs need to be continued in all sensitive coastal areas to describe concentrations and distributions of hydrocarbons at the sea surface, in sediments, and in biota. The results of this study can contribute to the baseline data which can be used for future monitoring programs and regulatory actions to improve the environmental quality of the Mediterranean coastal zone of Türkiye.

Keywords: Petroleum hydrocarbons, coastal waters, surface sediment, UV-fluorescence spectroscopy, contamination, Mediterranean Sea

References

Aktan, N., Tekin-Özan, S. (2012) Levels of some heavy metals in water and tissues of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) compared with physico-chemical parameters, seasons and size of the fish. Journal of Animal and Plant Sciences 22 (3): 605-613.

Balcı, A. (1993) Dissolved and dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons in the Eastern Aegean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 26: 222-223.

Bıldacı, I., Ünlü, S., Güven, K.C. (2000) Oil pollution of eastern Mediterranean Sea, south of Turkey. Turkish Journal of Marine Sciences 6(1): 1-7.

Cullinan, C. (2006) Integrated Coastal Management Law: Establishing and Strengthening National Legal Frameworks for Integrated Coastal Management. FAO, Rome, Italy.

Demir, V. (2011) Biodiversity Research in Kaş-Antalya Marine Protected Area Planning via Decision Support Systems. PhD Thesis, Institute of Marine Sciences and Management, Department of Marine Environment, Istanbul University, İstanbul, Turkey (in Turkish).

Ehrhardt, M., Petrick, G. (1989) Relative concentrations of dissolved/dispersed fossil fuel residues in Mediterranean surface waters as measured by UV Fluorescense. Marine Pollution Bulletin 20: 560-565.

Falkowski, P. G., Cara, W. (1992) Phytoplankton productivity in the North Pacific Ocean since 1900 and implications for absorption of anthropogenic CO₂. Nature 358 (6389): 741-743.

FAO (1982) The Review of the Health of the Oceans. FAO/IMCO/UNESCO/WMO/WHO/IAEA/UNEP Joint Group of Experts on Scientific Aspects of Marine Pollution (GESAMP). Rep Stud Gesamp 15: 108.

Grati, F., Carlson, A., Carpentieri, P., Cerri, J. (2021) Handbook for Data Collection on Recreational Fisheries in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper No: 669. FAO, Rome.

Güven, K.C., Öztürk, B., Ünlü, S., Balkıs, N., Aksoy, A., Cumalı, S. (2004) The oil, detergent and heavy metals pollution of Ölüdeniz, Fethiye and Göçek, south west of Turkey. Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 10(3): 233-244.

Güven, K.C., Ünlü, S., Bıldacı, I. Doğan, E. (1998) An investigation on the oil pollution of the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Turkish Journal of Marine Sciences 4: 51-60.

Huntington, T.G. (2006) Evidence for intensification of the global water cycle: review and synthesis. Journal of Hydrology 319: 83-95.

IOC (1984) Manual for Monitoring Oil and Dissolved/Dispersed Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Marine Waters and on Beaches. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO, Paris. 35pp. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25607/OBP-1417

ITOPF (1993) Response to Marine Oil Spills. The International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Ltd., London.

Literathy, P., Al-Bloushi, A. (1988) Behaviour and Fate of Oil in the Marine Environment: Physical, Biological and Chemical Processes. EES-122 Report KISR 3040, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.

Literathy, P., Morel, G., Zorba, M., Samhan, O., Al-Bloushi, A., Al-Hashash, N., Al-Matrouk, K., Jacob, P.G. (1992) Petroleum Compounds in the Marine Environment of Kuwait. EES-100Final Report, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait.

Mejjad, N., Rossi, A., Pavel, A.B. (2022) The coastal tourism industry in the Mediterranean: A critical review of the socio-economic and environmental pressures and impacts. Tourism Management Perspectives 44: 101007 doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2022.101007.

Meo, I., Miglietta, C., Mutlu, E., Deval, M.C., Balaban, C., Olguner, M.T. (2018) Ecological distribution of demersal fish species in space and time on the shelf of Antalya Gulf, Turkey. Marine Biodiversity 48: 2105-2118.

Özbek Özgür, E. (2013) Macrobenthic Echinoderm fauna of the littoral zone of the gulf of Antalya and some ecological factors affecting their seasonal distribution, PhD thesis, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, Department of Fisheries, Akdeniz University, Antalya. 431pp. (in Turkish).

Öztürk, B. (2021) Non-indigenous Species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Studies and Reviews No. 87 (General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean). FAO, Rome.

Öztürk, B., Altuğ, G., Çardak, M., Çiftçi, P.S. (2007) Oil pollution in surface water of the Turkish side of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Seas Journal of the Black Sea/Mediterranean Environment 13(3): 207-214.

Percin, F., Konyalıoğlu, S. (2008) Serum biochemical profiles of captive and wild northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) in the Eastern Mediterranean. Aquaculture Research 39(9): 945-953.

Rodriquez, J.J.S., Sanz, C.P. (2000) Fluorescence techniques for the determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine environment; an overview. Analusis 28(8): 710-717.

Saydam, A.C., Yılmaz, A., Baştürk, O., Salihoğlu, İ. (1988) Petrol hydrocarbon in sea water, marine organism and sediments from Northeastern Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. Rapports et Procès-Verbaux des Réunions de la Commission Internationale pour l’Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée 31(2): 163.

Telli Karakoç, F., Ediger, D., Günay, A.S. (2016) Oil Pollution in Turkish waters of the Mediterranean Sea. In: Oil Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea: Part II., (eds., Carpenter, A., Kostianoy, A.), The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry, Vol: 84, Springer, Cham.

UNEP (1989) Evaluation of MED POL- Phase II Monitoring Data-Part IV-Petroleum and Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Coastal and Reference Areas (UNEP (OCA)/MED WG.5/Inf.6) UNEP, Athens.

UNEP/MAP (2017) Mediterranean Quality Status Report. United Nations Environment Programme, Mediterranean Action Plan. Available at: https://www.medqsr.org/sites/default/files/inline files/2017MedQSR_Online_0 (accessed 6 July 2022).

USEPA-CADDIS (2022) pH -Sources, Stressors, Responses. Volume 2. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/caddis-vol2 (accessed 6 July 2022).

Ünlü, S., Alpar, B., Aydın, Ş. (2009) Spectrofluorometric characterization of aromatic hydrocarbon contamination in the sediment from the Zonguldak Industrial Region, Black Sea, Turkey. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin 18: 474-480.

Yılmaz, A., Saydam, A.C., Baştürk, Ö., Salihoğlu, İ. (1991) Transport of dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons in the Northeastern Mediterranean. Toxicological and Environmental Chemistry 31(32): 187-197.

Yılmaz, K., Yılmaz, A., Yemenicioğlu, S., Sur, M., Salihoğlu, İ., Karabulut, Z., Telli Karakoç, F., Hatipoğlu, E., Gaines, A.F., Phillips, D., Hewer, A. (1998) Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 36: 922-925.

Zanardi, E., Bicego, M.C., Weber, R.R. (1999) Dissolved /dispersed petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons in the Sao Sebastiao, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Marine Pollution Bulletin 38: 410-413.