Polycyclic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons pollution at the coast of Aliaga (Turkey) ship recycling zone

Aliaga Bay is one of the most important maritime zones of Turkey where shipping activity, shipbreaking industry, steel works and petrochemical complexes exist together. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment of the Aliaga Bay were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment from PAHs contamination in 2009-2010. Aliphatic and PAHs diagnostic ratios were showed to be mainly petroleum-originated and pyrolitic contaminations, respectively. The TEL/PEL analysis suggests that Aliaga sediments were likely to be contaminated by acutely toxic PAH compounds. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.