Overview of sediments pollution by PAHs and PCBs in mediterranean basin: Transport, fate, occurrence, and distribution

We reviewed 194 studies concerning POPs in Mediterranean basin; 38% were related to the origin and emission sources, as well as their physico-chemical properties and transport processes and 62% were related to Sigma(10-26)PAHs and Sigma(7-41)PCBs distribution in Mediterranean basin. Only 57% of Mediterranean countries with coasts on the Mediterranean Sea, have a published research papers about POPs. As results of the survey study: Italy, France, Spain and Egypt were identified as the main polluted Mediterranean countries. The highest concentrations were reported at areas influenced by harbor and industrial activities as the case of Gulf of Taranto (Italy), Lazaret Bay (France) and Napels Bay (Italy). However, lack of data is available for some area. We can suggest that Mediterranean Sea is in critical situation and some measures whether on global and regional scale were recommended in order to protect it and save the natural resources for the future generations.