Priority Substances in Waters of Albanian Ports

This study was to determine the concentration of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o-, m- p-xylenes) in water samples of Adriatic Sea on the Albanian coastline. These pollutants are classified as priority substances because of their stability and toxicity. Stations near the ports of Durres and Vlora were selected for this study. Durres and Vlora ports are the largest ports in Albania which are processing more than 90% of shipping transport for people and commerce in Albania. Intense ship transport and commercial processing are the main reasons for water pollution in port areas. Water currents and new arrivals from Albanian rivers can influence their pollution. Marine water samples from the ports of Durres and Vlora were taken in for the same stations in two periods, May and July 2022. Liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) and hexane as extracting solvents were used to isolate organochlorine pesticides and PCBs by water samples. PAHs were extracted using two steps LLE technique. Firstly, by using dichloromethane and after that hexane as extracting solvent. Organic phases were dried by using Na2SO4 anhidrous. Clean-up procedures were performed by using SPE techniques. After the concentration, the samples were injected in Varian 450 GC equipped with ECD and FID detectors. BTEX was analyzed using HS/SPME technique followed by GC/FID technique. Organochlorine pesticides (mostly their metabolites) were detected almost in all analyzed water for both periods of sampling. The main factors can be their previous use, new arrivals from rivers, and the water currents of the Adriatic Sea. PCBs, PAHs and BTEX were found almost for all analyzed samples. Their presence could be because of anthropogenic factors (intense activity and ship transport) in the port area. The higher level of all pollutants was in July because of the intense ship transport in this period of the year. The higher levels were found inside port areas for both periods. Priority substance levels in water samples of Durres and Vlora ports were higher/comparable with reported levels of them from other stations of the Adriatic Sea (Albania coast).