ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Study of the Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
Contamination in Barnacles and Sediments
in Caspian Sea Commercial
and Recreative Ports
More details
Hide details
1
Department of Environment, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Tabriz Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
2
Department of Environment, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3
Department of Environmental Engineering, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
Sustainable Development Management Research Centre of Urmia Lake basin, Tabriz Branch,
Islamic Azad University, Iran
Submission date: 2022-12-06
Final revision date: 2023-06-27
Acceptance date: 2023-08-26
Online publication date: 2024-02-21
Publication date: 2024-02-28
Corresponding author
Seyed Ali Jozi
Full Professor, Department of Environment, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran, Iran
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2024;33(3):2223-2231
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) are mutagenic, carcinogenic, and persistent organic pollutants of
the marine and coastal environment. No previous research has precisely used barnacles as potential
PCBs bioindicators in the Caspian sea. The present survey was done to add the PCBs concentrations
amongst the barnacle and sediment samples collected from 5 important Iranian ports besides the
Caspian sea. Barnacle and sediment samples were collected from Astara, Anzali, Caspian, Kiashahr,
and Chamkhaleh ports. Samples were transferred to the laboratory and analyzed for the presence and
concentration of PCBs using GC-MS. Eighty different types of PCB were detected in the examined
samples. PCBs concentration ranged from 02.00±00.10 to 53.00±00.60 ng/g. PCB-77 (53.00±00.60 ng/g
in Chamkhaleh, 53.00±01.20 ng/g in Caspian, 53.00±02.40 ng/g in Anzali, and 53.00±2.7 ng/g in Astara
ports) had the highest concentration in barnacle samples. PCB-52 (53.00±00.70 ng/g in Chamkhaleh
port) had the highest concentration in sediment samples. PCB-114 had the lowest concentration amongst
the barnacle (02.00±00.10 ng/g in Astara port) and sediment (03.00±00.20 ng/g in Anzali port) samples.
This study is the first report evaluating the presence and concentration of PCBs in barnacle in the Caspian Sea. The role of barnacles and sediments as biomonitors of PCBs was determined. It seems
necessary to set strict rules to prevent pollutants from entering the Caspian Sea.