ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN HOT-SPOT AREA OF PORTO-ROMANO, ALBANIA
AUREL NURO*, ELDA MARKU, BLEDAR MURTAJ
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana University, Tirana, Albania
*Corresponding author: aurel.nuro@fshn.edu.al
Keywords: Organochlorine pesticides; PCBs; PAH; BTEX; water analyze; sediment samples; GC/ECD/FID
Abstract: Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes) in marine water and sediment samples of Porto-Romano area are presented in this paper. Porto-Romano is situated in Adriatic Sea, near the city of Durresi, in central Albania. It is considered as hot-spot, because in this area was located the chemical plant for Lindane production before the 1990s. Water and sediment samples were taken in March 2018 in six stations of Porto-Romano. Liquid-liquid extraction was used for extracting organochlorine pesticides, PCBs and PAHs from water samples. Ultrasonic extraction was used for extraction of organic pollutants from sediment samples. Clean-up procedure was realized in an open-column of Florisil for chlorinated pollutants. Analysis of pesticides and PCBs were realized in HP 6890 Series II, gas chromatograph equipped with μECD detector. For separation of organochlorine pollutants Rtx-5 capillary column was used. Analysis of PAH and BTEX were realized in Varian 450 GC, gas chromatograph equipped with FID detector and VF-1ms capillary column. BTEX were analyzed using HS-SPME method. Organochlorine pesticides were found in higher levels for both water and sediment samples of Porto-Romano because of the presence of ex-chemical plants in this area for more than 30 year. Lindane and its isomers were not found in high concentration. PCB 28, a volatile congener was found in higher concentrations because of its atmospheric origin. Presence of PCB 138 showed terrestrial origin of PCBs in this area. PAH and BTEX were found only in 30% of the analyzed samples. Their concentration could be because of hydrocarbon activity and ship transport in this area. Mismanagement of ex-chemical plant wastes, urban pollution and recent industrial activity are the main factors of pollution in Porto-Romano area. Presence of organic pollutants in water and sediment samples of Porto-Romano indicates that monitoring of this Hot-spot should be continuous.