An overview of Organic Pollutants in Water Ecosystems of Albania

Abstract

Data about concentrations of some organic pollutants in several important water ecosystems of Albania are represented in this article. Water samples collected in three stations of Adriatic Sea (Vlora Bay, Port of Durres and Porto-Romano), two well-known Albanian lagoons (Karavasta and Patoku lagoons) and four rivers (Semani, Shkumbini, Erzeni and Mati rivers) were analyzed for following organic pollutants, Lindane and its isomers (a-HCH, b-HCH, Lindane, d-HCH and e-HCH), DDT and its metabolites (DDE, DDD and DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (7 PCB markers), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (13 PAH based on EPA 525) and BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, o-, mand p-Xylenes).The data has been collected for a two year period, March 2014 to April 2016. The results of the chemical analysis show that the samples of Semani River, Adriatic Sea and Shkumbini River have the highest concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (HCHs and DDTs). The cause of HCHs and DDTs presenceincludes their previous agricultural use, new incomes from erosion process and their degradation processes. Higher concentration values of volatile PCBs are related with their atmospheric deposition origin. Relatively high concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and volatile PAH compounds were detected in water samples of Port of Durres and Porto-Romano. The presence of hydrocarbonesis influenced by ships transport, discharges of wastesfrom the ships, local automobilist transport, etc. Also, higher concentration hydrocarbons were found in Semani River and Karavasta lagoon, because of extracting and processing of oil factories which operate in this area.