Sediment, notothenioid fish, and moss samples were collected from the vicinity of Galindez Island, Antarctic Peninsula during the austral autumn of 2016 and 2017. Pesticide, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), and dioxin-like Polychlorinated Biphenyl (dl-PCB) concentrations were measured using High-Resolution Gas and Liquid Chromatography. Pollutant concentrations were below detection limits in sediment and moss samples. However, pesticides, PAH, and dl-PCB congeners were detected in the muscle tissue of fishes. Pesticide concentrations varied between 0.46 and 12.2 ng/g-dw, and Mecarbam was the dominant compound. Kresoxim-methyl, Mecarbam, Procymidone, Pyridaben, and Quinoxyfen were reported in the muscle tissue of the fishes, for the first time from the Antarctic. PCB-118, PCB-105, and PCB-156 were dominant dl-PCBs. The ∑12-dl-PCB concentration was 160,929 pg/g-dw, and WHO-TEQ-total dl-PCB was 8.30 pg/g-dw in Trematomus bernachii, over the consumable limit in fishes according to the European Commission. The PCB-126 concentration was 36 pg/g-dw in the muscle tissue of fish, the first reported from the Antarctic. Phenanthrene was the dominant PAH congener. The ∑16-PAH concentration was 22.5 ng/g-dw. PAH sources were local and petrogenic in the fishes, likely after long-term bioaccumulation. The flow rate is rather low around Galindez Island; accordingly, contaminant removal takes time and may demonstrate long-lasting effects including bioaccumulation in the marine food web.

Abstract:The macrophyte plant distribution in some aquatic habitats and their availability for monitoring the PAH contamination were investigated in Kocaeli Province of Turkey. Alisma plantago-aquatica L. was collected to evaluate polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination in four aquatic habitats located nearby or distant to the industrial facilities and populated city center. Concentrations of eight PAH congeners were measured in A. plantagoaquatica leaves using gas chromatography. PAH sources were estimated using the following ratios, Fluoranthene / (Fluoranthene + Pyrene), Benzo(a)anthracene / (Benzo(a) anthracene + Chrysene) and Anthracene / (Anthracene + Phenanthrene) and were found to be pyrogenic-sourced in all stations. Since the ratios of congeners indicate the pyrogenic contamination, atmospheric deposition can be considered as the main pathway for PAH transportation. The highest ∑PAH concentration (798 µg kg -1 ) was measured in the nearest station (Bıçkıdere Dam) to the city center and highway, while the lowest concentration (183 µg kg -1 ) was determined in the Tahtalı Dam, which is relatively distant from the industrial facilities, dense population and motorways. Present results indicate that incomplete combustion of grass, wood and coal, as well as recreational and agricultural implementations and vehicular emissions, may cause pyrogenic PAH contamination. Also, broad basal leaves of A. plantago-aquatica can be considered as sampling material in further biomonitoring studies.