Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in sediments from Petrolifera and Porto Romano ports in Albania

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) pose significant concerns due to their harmful impacts on both wildlife and human health. This study analyzed the concentrations and distribution patterns of OCPs and PCBs in surface sediments collected from Porto-Romano and Petrolifera ports. The results showed that sediment samples from Porto-Romano contained higher levels of OCPs and PCBs than those from Petrolifera. Notably, Petrolifera Port dominated low-chlorinated PCBs, such as PCB28 and PCB52, whereas Porto-Romano displayed a mixture of both high- and low-chlorinated PCBs. Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for aquatic ecosystems were used to assess the potential impact of the detected PCBs and OCPs in sediments from both sites.