Özet:

Mersin Bay extends from Taşucu in the west to Karataş in the east and is a unique ecosystem with its own biodiversity, biological production and marine life. However, as many other ecosystems worldwide, it is subjected to diverse anthropogenic pressure (overfishing, climate change, decrease in diversity and habitats and pollution). In this study, temporal variations of pollutants in water, sediment and organisms from Mersin Bay were assessed by investigating the previous studies. In this context, the situation and fate of Mersin Bay were discussed in terms of eutrophication, trace metals, persistent organic pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls, Aroclors, pesticides, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, petroleum hydrocarbons) and various sources of pollution. Mersin Bay ecosystem has been subjected to various pollution sources and the pollution levels showed changes depending on the location and pollutant types. For example, higher levels of pesticides are found in areas where Seyhan and Goksu rivers discharged by contributing pesticides from adjacent areas with intense agricultural activities. Increased levels of PCB and PAH were measured in areas with industrial and shipping activities. Despite the prohibition of most PCB and pesticides, its presence in recent sediments indicates that these pollutants remain in the environment for a long time because of low rate of degradation or they are re-marketed in the world. PCBs do not breakdown easily and are not readily metabolized by humans and animals. Therefore, it accumulates mainly in fat tissue of organisms and is transported to higher trophic levels in increasing concentrations. These pollutants, which are toxic to human and other organisms, damage to immune and reproductive system by interacting with hormones and they cause to developmental impairments. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum hydrocarbons are natural components of coal and oil, and are also formed during the combustion of fossil fuels and organic material. Unlike organochlorine compounds such as PCBs and pesticides, PAHs are readily metabolized. Therefore, concentrations in living tissue are lower than sediment. In addition, Kromsan-Soda chromium plantation, which had previously been active in the area, contribute to the presence of trace metals, especially chromium, in Mersin Bay ecosystem. Because of the low rate of degradation, pollution monitoring studies are important for the future of the bay. In this study, previous works dealing with the pollution of Mersin Bay from 1980 to the present day were investigated, and an assessment was made on the past and situation of the Bay.

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