Assessment of Macrophyte Plant Distribution and PAH Contamination in Selected Aquatic Habitats from an Industrialized City; Kocaeli, Turkey

Abstract

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.

Assessment of Macrophyte Biological Index for Rivers, and evaluation of physicochemical parameters in the Sakarya River Basin of Turkey

“…However, a more significant contribution to pH change might originate from the effluents of various sources (Morrison et al, 2001). A change in pH can influence floral composition (Palagushkina et al, 2019), ionization of electrolytes, dissolved silica uptake by diatoms, and higher plants; accordingly it can influence the trophic status of the ecosystem by promoting undesirable organisms' proliferation (Yang et al, 2008;Amann et al, 2014). Furthermore, a change in the pH would directly affect the macrophyte abundance and composition in the rivers (Reitsema et al, 2018).…”