ORGANOCHLORINATED PESTICIDE RESIDUES IN MARINE WATER IN THE SOUTH OF ALBANIA

This article, presents data of organochlorinated pesticides levels in marine waters in the south of Albania. Stations in the study were: Tri Port (bay of Vlora, the Adriatic Sea), Karaburun Peninsula (Bay of Vlora, the Adriatic Sea) and Dhërmi (Ionian Sea). Water samples were taken in the period May-July 2010. Organochlorinated pesticides are a widespread class of organic compounds for agricultural purposes and also known for many environmental problems. They are persistent, apolar compounds and can accumulate easily in fat tissues. These chemicals can be transported via air routes and movement of water from pollution sources. Analysis of organochlorinated pesticides in water samples was performed by gas chromatography technique using electron capture detector (GC/ECD), based on EPA Method 8081. In the analytical method combined liquid-liquid extraction and florisil treatment with 5% water for cleaning of the samples as pretreatment procedure. Rtx-5 capillary column was used for isolation and determination of organochlorinated pesticides. In the studied samples were detected regularly in large amounts of DDT and its metabolites, Lindane and its isomers and HCB. Presence of organochlorinated pesticides was as a result of their previous uses for agricultural purposes, due to inflows of rinse from agricultural lands and from miss management of waste for organochlorinated pesticides stocks after 90’. One important factor with significant impact in the profile of pesticides is the movements of marine currents within the Bay of Vlora. Found levels of organochlorinated pesticides are comparable to levels reported for similar studies in the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea.