Hydrocarbon Concentrations in Surface Sediments from Ambarli Harbor (sea of Marmara, Turkey)

Surface sediments collected from 33 stations along the Ambarli Harbor, the Sea of Marmara, were analyzed for petroleum aromatic hydrocarbons by UV-fluorescence. Higher concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons were found of all the samples collected during May 2009, with levels ranging 1860 and 72 μg/g eq oil (205 and 7 μg/g chrysene eq.). The spectra indicate dominant pyrolytic origins in some stations of pyrolysis reactions of fossil fuels where the 3-4 ring PAHs are dominant. The pyrolytic contamination of these stations could be attributed to fossil fuel oil particulates emission by commercial vessels, heavy maritime traffic, particularly involving petroleum transports and fishing boats, and the improper disposal of ballast and bilge waters.