Determination of polyclorine biphenyl levels in greenhouse soils in Aksu Fettahli region of Antalya

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been the subject of research of different disciplines for many years due to their long half-life, toxicity, bioaccumulation, carcinogenicity, adverse health effects on the environment, human and animal health. Agricultural lands are directly linked to human health through food supply and skin contact. Understanding the concentrations and sources of these compounds in the soil is of great importance for human health and the environment. Within the scope of this study, a total of 50 soil samples were taken from greenhouses with glass and plastic cover types in the Aksu-Fettahlı region of Antalya, which is the center of greenhouse agriculture, both in winter and autumn, and PCB levels were examined. It was aimed to determine the effect on PCB concentrations and a source determination study was conducted with the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. The mean PCB concentrations detected in the autumn and winter periods were 9.83±13.47 ng/g and 9.58±9.31 ng/g. It was determined that the total PCB concentration in the analyzed samples was high in autumn for glass greenhouses and in winter for plastic greenhouses. Hexa-CBs dominated in plastic and glass greenhouse soils PCB concentrations in both autumn and winter. According to the source identification study with PMF, the most important PCB source in the greenhouse soil was a mixed source (60%). Other sources were determined as the use of used engine oil, waste oil burning and vehicle exhaust (21%), and wood and coal burning emissions used for heating (19%).