Priority Substances in Waters of Albanian Ports

Esmeralda Halo – Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Albania

Bledar Murtaj – Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Albania

Aurel Nuro – Tirana University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Albania

Abstract: This study was to determine the concentration of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-, m- p-xylenes) in water samples of Adriatic Sea on the Albanian coastline. These pollutants are clas­sified as priority substances because of their stability and toxicity. Stations near the ports of Durres and Vlora were selected for this study. Durres and Vlora ports are the largest ports in Albania which are processing more than 90% of shipping transport for people and commerce in Albania. Intense ship transport and commercial processing are the main reasons for water pollu­tion in port areas. Water currents and new arrivals from Albanian rivers can influence their pollution. Marine water samples from the ports of Durres and Vlora were taken in for the same stations in two periods, May and July 2022. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and hexane as extracting solvents were used to isolate organochlorine pesticides and PCBs by water samples. PAHs were extracted using two steps LLE technique. Firstly, by using dichloromethane and after that hexane as extracting solvent. Organic phases were dried by using Na2SO4 anhidrous. Clean-up procedures were performed by using SPE techniques. After the concentration, the samples were injected in Var­ian 450 GC equipped with ECD and FID detectors. BTEX was analyzed us­ing HS/SPME technique followed by GC/FID technique. Organochlorine pes­ticides (mostly their metabolites) were detected almost in all analyzed wa­ter for both periods of sampling. The main factors can be their previous use, new arrivals from rivers, and the water currents of the Adriatic Sea. PCBs, PAHs and BTEX were found almost for all analyzed samples. Their presence could be because of anthropogenic factors (intense activity and ship trans­port) in the port area. The higher level of all pollutants was in July because of the intense ship transport in this period of the year. The higher levels were found inside port areas for both periods. Priority substance levels in water samples of Durres and Vlora ports were higher/comparable with reported levels of them from other stations of the Adriatic Sea (Albania coast).

6th International Scientific Conference on Recent Advances in Information Technology, Tourism, Economics, Management and Agriculture – ITEMA 2022 – Conference Proceedings, Hybrid (University of Maribor, Slovenia), October 27, 2022

ITEMA Conference Proceedings published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans – Belgrade, Serbia

ITEMA conference partners: Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Slovenia; Faculty of Organization and Informatics, University of Zagreb, Varaždin; Faculty of Geography, University of Belgrade, Serbia; Institute of Marketing, Poznan University of Economics and Business, Poland; Faculty of Agriculture, Banat’s University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine ”King Michael I of Romania”, Romania

ITEMA Conference 2022 Conference Proceedings: ISBN 978-86-80194-63-9, ISSN 2683-5991, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ITEMA.2022

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Additional reading

Akkanen, J., Tuikka, A., & Kukkonen, J. V. K. (2005). Comparative sorption and desorption of benzo[a]pyrene and 3,4,3′,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl in natural lake water containing dissolved organic matter. Environ Sci Technol 39(19):7529–7534

Stogiannidis, E., & Laane, R. (2015). Source characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by using their molecular indices: an overview of possibilities. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol 234: 49–133.