Determination of polychlorinated biphenlys concentrations in the atmosphere of Istanbul

Polichlorinated Biphenils (PCB?s) produced as complex materials and have been widely used in industrial applications from 1930?s to 1970?s for their physical and chemical properties. Nowadays, PCB?s have been particularly emitted to the atmosphere; with the use of PCB containing materials, domestic and industrial burning, mass transfer between soil/air and water/air layers, from mixed or municipal solid waste landfills and sludge dewatering beds. Atmospheric PCB pollution substantially arises from the transport of PCB?s emitted long before the detection. These PCB?s, that is not found in nature and therefore is not cycled, are perpetually accumulated in the emitted region as a result of their production, use and wasting to the nature. Also, they easily bond to the other molecules in the atmosphere transported by air or water affecting other ecosystems.PCB?s, because of its adverse effects and long lasting, have been a popular research topic in the last century. Some researchers searched about their sources, while some others studied their concentration levels, gas/particulate distribution and their relationship between meteorological parameters. All these studies conducted in some cities of the world except the one of the biggest city, İstanbul, Turkey.In this study, atmospheric concentrations of PCB?s were measured, gas/particulate fractions and dominant homolog groups were determined in three regions of İstanbul, Davutpaşa and Beşiktaş Campus of Yıldız Technical University, and Fenertepe. Measured concentrations were analyzed with meteorological parameters to find the possible sources related to PCB pollution. All PCB congeners in Davutpaşa Campus had an average particulate phase concentration of 84,05±5,16 pg/m3 and gas phase concentration of 889,1±112,25 pg/m3Beşiktaş Campus had an average particulate phase concentration of 74,81±4,96 pg/m3and average gas phase concentration of 559,83±53,62 pg/m3for total concentrations of all PCB congeners. Fenertepe station, as a semi-rural area, had an average particulate and gas phase concentrations of 15,20±1,68 pg/m3and 57,48±5,72 pg/m3, respectively.According to the concentrations measured; it can be stated that; casting and metal plants in İkitelli Organized Industrial Zone influenced the air quality and contributed the PCB pollution. Also, in April 2012 the fire in a textile industry in Zeytinburnu, near Davutpaşa area, made PCB concentrations increase enormously, as a result of transportation to the measuring station.Keywords: Polychlorinated Biphenyls, gas/particulate phase, concentration. Davutpaşa, Beşiktaş, Fenertepe