Priority substances in Adriatic Sea. Case study: Water of Durrеs and Vlora ports, Albanian coastline
Bledar Murtaj
, Esmeralda Halo
, Aurel Nuro
, Jonida Tahiraj, Sonila Kane, Elda Marku, Pranvera Lazo
Abstract: The elevated activities in the port areas are the main reasons for water pollution by priority substances, which are of growing concern due to their potential toxicity to aquatic organisms and human health. Therefore, this paper reports the concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and o-, m-, and p-xylenes), analyzed in water samples from two main ports, Durrеs and Vlora. To assess the pollution status of these areas 24 water samples in total were collected, of which 12 in the port of Durrеs and 12 in Vlora port, in June 2022. Analyses of this compounds were performed using a gas chromatograph (Varian 450 GC) equipped with ECD and FID detectors. BTEX were analyzed using the HS/SPME technique, followed by the GC/FID technique for their qualification and quantification. Organochlorine pesticides and their degradation products were detected in all water samples. Their presence may be related to their previous uses. PCBs, PAHs, and BTEX were found in almost all analyzed samples. The higher levels were found in stations inside port areas. Their presence is due to anthropogenic factors (intense activity and ship transport) in these areas. The reported levels of these priority substances in water samples from Durrеs and Vlora's ports were higher and comparable with reported levels of them from other stations in the Adriatic Sea. Although the production and use of these substances have been banned for decades, their presence continues to be reported.
Keywords: BTEX; Durrеs and Vlora ports; GC/ECD/FID; OCPs; PAH; PCBs
Citation: Murtaj, B., Halo, E., Nuro, A., Tahiraj, J., Kane, S., Marku, E. & Lazo, P. (2026). Priority substances in Adriatic Sea. Case study: Water of Durrеs and Vlora ports, Albanian coastline. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 32(3), 741–749
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| Date published: 2026-06-25
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