An Assessment of the Spatial Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contamination in Turkey

This study summarizes the relevant information regarding the spatial distribution of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in various environmental (e.g., soil, sediment, air, water) and biological (e.g., fish, mussel, adipose tissue, milk) media in Turkey. The information sources, used for this purpose, in addition to the scientific literature, were; official import records, governmental reports on monitoring of organochlorines, and reports prepared by international organizations. PCBs were never produced in Turkey; however they were imported and used within equipment or otherwise. The number of studies conducted on the topic is increasing significantly throughout the years and especially in the last decade. Evidence of PCB pollution was compared with the available background monitoring results from the region and other parts of the world, as well as relevant legislative standards. Overall, the presence of a number of important local PCB contamination sources is indicated as a result of this assessment.