Petroleum hydrocarbon levels in surficial sediments from Izmir Bay

This thesis represents the first time study f the distribution and sources of total petroleum hydrocarbons, individual aliphatic (n 1kanes) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Izmir Bay, Eastt. i Aegean. Surface sediments were sampled at 16 locations using the vessel R/V K. Pin Reis during the period of the 14-17 November 2000. Seawater samples were collected at ? stations during R/V K. Piri Reis cruise in the Izmir Bay between November 2000 and August 2001. The concentrations of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total petroleum hydrocarbons (by gas chromatography-flame ionization dedector) and dissolved dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (by spectrophotometry) for seawater were detected in the Izmir Bay. The concentrations of total, aliphatic and aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons range between 427-7800, 121-4427, 223-6462 (ng g"1 dry weight). The levels of dissolved dispersed hydrocarbons found in seawater varied 0.023-0.52 \ig l"1 in the bay. The highest concentrations of hydrocarbons were found in the inner part of the bay. In this study, we used molecular indices (Pri/Phy, nC17/Pri, Phe/Ant, Flt/Pyr) to indicate the most probable source of contamination. High ratio of pristane to phytane or the predominance of a single isoprenoid (such as pristane) indicates a biogenic source. Pri/Phy ratios of all sampling stations were found >1 indicating the biogenic sources. In most of the sediments samples it is noted that n-Cn dominates pristane indicating contributions derived from algae. All samples are characterized Phenanthrene/Anthracene ratio values < 10 and most of samples are grouped by Fluoranthene/Pyrene ratios > 1, which is characteristic of strong pyrolytic input in Izmir Bay. Fluoranthene/Pyrene ratios are generally < 1 in the Inner Bay indicating petrogenic origin of the hydrocarbons. Keywords: Aliphatic Hydrocarbon, Aliphatic Hydrocarbon, Sediment, Izmir Bay