Determination of PAH (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) in Mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lamarck, 1819) from Various Regions of the Marmara Sea In this study with an aim to investigate concentrations of PAH components in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected from stations chosen at various coasts of Marmara Sea and to understand the origin (pyrolitic / petrogenic) of pollution.
The mussel samples were collected from total at 16 different stations choosen in Marmara Sea coasts including Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits between 2011- 2013 in 4 times. Weighed samples were extracted following sapponification. Clean-up was applied to evaporated samples and they were analyesed in HPLC – DAD.
The highest PAH concentrations among the chosen 16 stations in Marmara Sea were found in mussels collected from Kadıköy, Kumkapı and Kumkale Cape which are affected from busy marine traffic. Chrysene was found as a component having 2 ppb- 52 ppm range and the highest concentration among the PAH components. Flouranthene and benzo(a)pyrene have higher components following chrysene. Even so some of the PAH component are under the detection limit, particularly benzo(a)pyrene which is known as canserojen was determined as 3 ppb being the lowest value and 8 ppm as the highest value throughout the study. As a result most samples showed a value of BaP exceeding the maximum limit (10 ppb) established by the law. Thus, it seems that human consuming PAH contaminated mussels as food are at the risk for adverse health effects.
