PCB and PCDD/F in sediments and mussels of the Istanbul strait (Turkey)

Sediment and mussel samples collected along the coasts of the Istanbul strait and an island in Marmara Sea (Turkey) were analyzed for six indicator polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), 12 dioxin-like PCB (dl-PCB) and 17 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin/furan (PCDD/F) congeners. Samples contained different concentrations of PCBs and among these, congeners 153, 75, 105 and 118 in sediments and congeners 153, 138 and 118 in mussels were most abundant. The concentration levels of total PCBs and PCDD/Fs in sediments ranged from 17.9 to 539 746 pg g−1 dm and 2.04 to 60.5 pg g−1 dm, respectively. The total WHO-TEQ values ranged between 0.01 and 17.8 pg g−1 dm in sediments, and 0.98 and 1.01 pg g−1 ww in mussels. None of the sediment and mussel samples analyzed exceeded the limits suggested in the sediment quality guideline and safe values set by the European Community for seafood intended for human consumption, respectively.