Polycyclic aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons pollution at the coast of Aliağa (Turkey) ship recycling zone

► This study is about pollution of petroleum hydrocarbons in the Aliağa Bay. ► Sediment were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment. ► The TEL/PEL suggests that sediments were likely to be contaminated. ► The pollution is due to shipbreaking industry and petrochemical complex. Aliağa Bay is one of the most important maritime zones of Turkey where shipping activity, shipbreaking industry, steel works and petrochemical complexes exist together. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment of the Aliağa Bay were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment from PAHs contamination in 2009–2010. Aliphatic and PAHs diagnostic ratios were showed to be mainly petroleum-originated and pyrolitic contaminations, respectively. The TEL/PEL analysis suggests that Aliağa sediments were likely to be contaminated by acutely toxic PAH compounds.