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Hydrocarbons in the water and bottom sediments of Sivash Bay (the Azov Sea) during its salinization

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Abstract

Sivash Bay is a unique hypersaline lagoon located in the northern part of the Crimean Peninsula. In 2014, due to political events in connection with the closure of the North Crimean Canal, the inflow of fresh water to Sivash Bay has been significantly reduced. As a result, there has been a steady increase in salinity since 2014 to the present. The main purpose of this work was to determine the spatial distribution and qualitative composition of hydrocarbons (aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in the water and bottom sediments of the hypersaline Sivash Bay under increasing water salinity. The analysis of the physico-chemical parameters of Sivash Bay in 2020 showed the continued salinization and change of physico-chemical conditions of the lagoon. At the same time, spatially, the change in salinity affected only the total content and qualitative composition of hydrocarbons in the water. The content of the studied classes of hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments did not demonstrate a reliable correlation with the concentration of salts. There was also no statistically significant dependence of Eh and pH of bottom sediments on salinity. In accordance with the composition of n-alkanes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, as well as on the basis of PCA analysis, it is possible to make a conclusion on natural, mainly autochthonous, sources of this class of substances and low toxicity of bottom sediments of the bay. Low concentrations and composition of hydrocarbons indicate an insignificant input of pollutants of anthropogenic origin in Sivash Bay during its salinization.

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Acknowledgements

The work was carried out within the framework of IBSS state theme “Molismological and biogeochemical foundations of marine ecosystems homeostasis” (no. 0556-2021-0001, no. state registration 12103100515-8), the framework of MHI “Complex interdisciplinary studies of oceanologic processes which determine functioning and evolution of ecosystems in the coastal zones of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov” (no. 0555-2021-0005).

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  1. A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas of RAS, 2 Nakhimov Avenue, 299011, Sevastopol, Russian Federation

    Olga Soloveva & Elena Tikhonova

  2. Azov-Black Sea Branch of “VNIRO” (“AzNIIRKH”), 21v Beregovaya Str, 344002, Rostov-on-Don, Russian Federation

    Timofey Barabashin

  3. Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS, 2 Kapitanskaya St, 299011, Sevastopol, Russian Federation

    Ekaterina Eremina

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  1. Olga Soloveva
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  4. Ekaterina Eremina
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection, and analysis were performed by all authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Olga Soloveva, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Elena Tikhonova.

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Soloveva, O., Tikhonova, E., Barabashin, T. et al. Hydrocarbons in the water and bottom sediments of Sivash Bay (the Azov Sea) during its salinization. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 21186–21198 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-23579-4

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