Evaluation of petroleum hydrocarbons and its impact on organic matters of living organisms in the northwestern Gulf of Suez, Egypt

Abstract

The levels of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) have been reported for ten commercially important fish species from the northwestern Gulf of Suez, Egypt. Target compounds were analytically determined with gas chromatography–flame ionization detector and High-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Results showed that total petroleum hydrocarbon varied from 21700 to 1503100 ng/g wet wt., Argyrops Spinifer showed the highest level of TPH in the muscle tissue followed by Euthynnus affinis 1459800 ng/g wet wt. These data are very important for coming pollution monitoring program to the Suez Gulf. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 PAHs) varied between 81.499 and 5895.608 ng/g wet wt. The diagnostic indices used showed that the hydrocarbons in the area were from both biogenic and anthropogenic sources. Hence, there is need for adequate regulation and control of all activities contributing to the levels of petroleum hydrocarbon in the marine environment for the safety of human, and fish species lives in the area.