Persistent organochlorine residues in sediments along the coast of mid-Black Sea region of Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine aspects of water and surface sediment quality in the coastal zone of the mid-Black Sea, and of rivers discharging into it, by analyzing their organochlorine pesticides (OC) levels. Surface sediment samples and water samples were collected from 14 sites from the rivers Ye ilırmak, Abdal, Mert, Kürtün, Engiz and Kızılırmak. In sediments, Aldrin ranged from 19.3 to 87.3 ng/g and p,p′-DDT ranged from 18.6 to 31.0 ng/g.