Monitoring of heavy metal and organic compound levels along the Eastern Aegean coast with transplanted mussels Filiz Kucuksezgin a,⇑ , Idil Pazi a , Guzel Yucel-Gier a , Baris Akcali a , François Galgani b a Dokuz Eylul University, Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology Inciralti, 35340 Izmir, Turkey b IFREMER, Laboratoire LER/PAC, Immeuble Agostini ZI Furiani, 20600 Bastia, France highlights  Transplanted mussels were used to monitor contaminants in the Eastern Aegean.  Low metal pollution were observed in Canakkale Strait, Izmir, Saros and Candarli Bays.  PAH contamination level classified as low along the Aegean coast.  DDTs in mussels were derived from the recent inputs. article info Article history: Received 19 March 2013 Received in revised form 18 July 2013 Accepted 21 July 2013 Available online xxxx Keywords: Mussels Organic pollutants Heavy metals Transplantation Eastern Aegean abstract Within the framework of the MYTITURK project, heavy metals and organic compounds contaminations were assessed in transplanted mussels in eight different bays from the Eastern Aegean coast. Izmir Bay, Canakkale Strait entrance, Saros and Candarli Bay were defined low pollution extent according to Principal Component Analysis taking into metal accumulation. PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) levels in the range of 29.4–64.2 ng g 1 (dry weight) indicated that PAH contamination level classified as low along the Aegean coast. Concentrations of Aroclor1254 and 1260 were higher in transplanted mus- sels from Canakkale Strait Outlet due to industrial activities was originated from Marmara Sea. The organochlorinated pesticides such as heptachlor (<0.4 ng g 1 ), aldrin (<0.30 ng g 1 ), dieldrin (<0.75 ng g 1 ), endrin (<2.3 ng g 1 ) concentrations were homogeneous however, HCB (Hexachloroben- zene) and lindane concentrations were found undetectable level along the coast. DDE/DDT ratio in the caged mussels form Gulluk and Gokova Bay indicated recent DDT (Dikloro difenil trikloroethan) usage in these areas. The residues of organochlorinated compounds in transplanted mussels confirm the long persistence of DDTs. According to world health authorities, the concentration of heavy metals in mussels for the study area can generally be considered not to be at levels posing a health risk except Zn. The levels of POPs indicated that transplanted mussels have a lack of risk for the human health. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The use of the mussel, mainly of the genus Mytilus sp., to study levels and trends of chemical contamination in coastal waters was first suggested in the mid-1970s (Goldberg, 1975). Bivalves are considered suitable bioindicators for biomonitoring studies and appropriate for transplantation along coastlines (Viarengo et al., 2007) due to their wide geographical distribution, sedentary filter-feeding organisms and ability to accumulate high levels of contaminants including metals in proportion to ambient concentrations in seawater (Goldberg, 1975; Andral et al., 2011). Transplanted mussels facilitate the investigation of areas where native specimens are absent and/ or compensatory adaptative mechanisms likely occurs in native populations from chronically polluted areas (Regoli and Principato, 1995; Nigro et al., 2006). Fur- thermore, metal levels in mussels reflect concentrations over long periods of accumulation and not short-term fluctuations in seawa- ter. The use of transplanted mussels from non-contaminated sites is a frequently suggested approach in order to avoid bias related to the age and the reproductive status of the organisms (Hunt and Slone, 2010; Andral et al., 2011; Tsangaris et al., 2011). Organochlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been recognized as persistent organic compounds (POPs). PAHs and heavy metals are a wide spread class of environ- mental pollutants that are carcinogenic and mutagenic. These con- taminant were selected in this study because, they have adverse effects on humans and on ecosystems due to their high toxicity and persistence (USEPA, 1999; UNEP, 2009). 0045-6535/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.07.058 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +90 232 278 55 65; fax: +90 232 278 50 82. E-mail address: filiz.ksezgin@deu.edu.tr (F. Kucuksezgin). Chemosphere xxx (2013) xxx–xxx Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Chemosphere journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/chemosphere Please cite this article in press as: Kucuksezgin, F., et al. Monitoring of heavy metal and organic compound levels along the Eastern Aegean coast with transplanted mussels. Chemosphere (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.07.058