ASSESSMENT OF MARINE WATER CONTAMINATION BY PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS IN THE NORTHWESTERN PART OF THE BLACK SEA

Abstract

The coastal zone of the northwestern part of the Black Sea is subject to significant pressure from various types of anthropogenic activities and industrial development, raising concerns regarding potential marine water contamination. In this context, studies aimed at determining the levels of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which can remain in water for prolonged periods, accumulate in sediments, and exert toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems, are particularly relevant. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination levels of organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the coastal waters of Odesa by collecting samples at three sites: Arkadia Beach, Malyi Fontan Cape, and the Black Sea Yacht Club. In addition to determining the concentrations of organic pollutants, key physicochemical parameters, such as temperature (°C), pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen content, were measured to provide a comprehensive assessment of water quality in these areas. The potential ecological risk associated with the presence of POPs was evaluated using the pollution coefficient (Kp). The scientific novelty of the study lies in the integrated combination of hydrochemical analysis with the determination of a wide range of POPs in specific coastal locations, alongside the parallel consideration of physicochemical parameters. This approach enabled a multifaceted understanding of the aquatic environment and the identification of relationships between environmental conditions and the concentrations of organic pollutants. The results showed that physicochemical parameters and POP concentrations were similar across most sites, corresponding to good or satisfactory water quality. Nevertheless, even low levels of persistent organic pollutants underscore the need for regular monitoring, which serves as a crucial indicator of anthropogenic impact and enables the timely detection of trends in coastal water quality deterioration.