Levels of organic contamination in blue crab and edible fish from The Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean Coasts

The thesis represents the first detailed study of the contamination levels of OCPs and PCBs in fish and crabs from the Aegean and Mediterranean coast of Turkey. Analysis of biota samples showed that the maximum concentration of ΣOCPs (33.2 ng g-1 dry weight (dw)) was found in gray mullet samples collected from Antalya due to dense agricultural activities in the surroundings of Beymelek Lagoon. The minimum consecentration of ΣOCPs (0.87 ng g-1 dw) was found in male blue crab samples collected from Göksu Delta in Mersin. The contamination levels of OCPs and PCBs in biota samples are low as compared to the different areas in the world. The contamination levels of ΣPCB and ΣDDT in sea food samples ranging from 43-226 and 0.6-20.2 ngg-1 dw respectively. Although the highest ΣDDTs concentration was found in gray mullet, lowest concentration was found in male blue crab samples in Mersin. DDD/DDE ratios in biota samples were lower than 1, due to aerobic conditions. The highest concentration of ΣPCBs (226 ng g-1 dw) was found in sea bream samples collected in Dalyan. The minimum concentration of ΣPCBs was found in sea bream samples in Antalya (43 ng g-1 dw). In this study, health risk assesments were analyzed about OCPs and PCBs due to consumed sea food. The estimated daily intake deriving from the estimated daily fish consumption in Turkey is very much below the Acceptable Daily Intake. This represents a good indication for Turkish fish consumers. Concentrations of ΣDDT and ΣPCB in sea food lower than the Maxiumum Residue Limit established by the U.S Food and Drug Administration. According to average PCBs levels in samples four fish meals (average fish meal size 0.227 kg) per month for sea bream and gray mullet based on the cancer health endpoint can safely be consumed. However eight crab meals per month can safely be consumed. Environmental Protection Agency recommends using the more conservative of the two limits, for PCBs, this is the consumption limit based on the cancer endpoint.