Monitoring of organochlorine pesticides in the surface waters from Mid-Black Sea Region, Turkey

The levels of 16 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in surface water in Mid-Black Sea Region in Turkey were investigated to evaluate their potential pollution and risks. The analysis of OCPs extracted by C-18 solid phase extract was performed using Fisions Mega II Series gas chromatograph coupled by electron capture detector. Surface water samples have been collected seasonally from ten rivers for a period of 1 year. The most commonly encountered OCPs in surface water were the isomers of hexachloro-cyclohexane, dieldrin, p,p-DDD, and heptachlor epoxide. In some cases the concentrations detected were higher than the qualitative target levels set by the European Union, especially for delta-hexachlorocyclohexane. The concentration levels found are lower than the EU maximum acceptable concentration of 0.10 mu g/l for all compounds examined, except for delta-HCH in two samples (0.2505 mu g l(-1) in the S-5 and 0.2046 mu g l(-1) in the S-10). The occurrence of these compounds in Mid-Black Sea Region surface waters can be attributed to intense agricultural activity as well as to transboundary pollution.