title: Monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Northeast Aegean Sea using Posidonia oceanica seagrass and synthetic passive samplers.
abstract: The concentrations of 22 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in Posidonia oceanica seagrass, sediments, and seawater from the Alexandroupolis Gulf in the Aegean Sea, were investigated from 2007 to 2011. Temporal trends of total PAH contents in P. oceanica and sediments were similar. PAH levels in seawater, sediments, and seagrasses generally decreased with increasing distance from Alexandroupolis Port. Leaves and sheaths of P. oceanica had higher PAH levels than roots and rhizomes. P. oceanica accumulates PAHs and has good potential as a bioindicator of spatiotemporal pollution trends. PAH concentrations were also examined using in situ passive seawater sampling and were compared to results of passive sampling in the laboratory using local sediments and seawater. Levels of high molecular weight PAHs assessed using passive samplers confirmed the decreasing gradient of pollution away from Alexandroupolis Port. Passive sampling also proved useful for investigating sources of PAHs in P. oceanica meadows.
authors.affiliation: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry and Earth System Sciences Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: mapostol@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Maria-Venetia
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Apostolopoulou
authors.affiliation: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models, MARCHEM, 3e & 23e Linieregimentsplein, B-8400 Ostend, Belgium. Electronic address: E.Monteyne@mumm.ac.be.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monteyne
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 541 24 University Campus, Thessaloniki, Greece. Electronic address: krikonis.math@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krikonis
authors.affiliation: Department of Geography and Planning, Paris Sorbonne University, P.O. Box 38044, Al Reem Island, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Electronic address: kpavlop@hua.gr.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pavlopoulos
authors.affiliation: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences, Management Unit of the North Sea Mathematical Models, MARCHEM, 3e & 23e Linieregimentsplein, B-8400 Ostend, Belgium. Electronic address: P.Roose@mumm.ac.be.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roose
authors.affiliation: Analytical, Environmental and Geo-Chemistry and Earth System Sciences Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: fdehairs@vub.ac.be.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dehairs
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000737:chemistry*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
keywords: Aegean Sea; Alexandroupolis Gulf; Mediterranean Sea; PAHs; Passive sampling; Posidonia oceanica