PAHs in Seawater of the Semi-Closed Areas along the Alexandria Coast of Egyptian Mediterranean Sea

Mohamed A Shreadah,Eiman M I Fathallah,Mohamed I Abdel Moneim,Tarek O Said,Mohamed E Mahmoud

doi:10.4236/jep.2013.411152

Abstract

The distributions of 15 out of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surface and bottom water of Alexandria coasts (Egyptian Mediterranean Sea). Total average PAH concentrations were ranged from 9.89 to 677.25 ng/l, and from 2.21 to 345.29 ng/l in surface and bottom water, respectively. PAH concentrations were at relatively low levels compared to those reported for other estuaries and marine systems around the world. The ΣCOMB and ΣTF-PAHs suggest the origin of hydrocarbons. The higher concentrations of total pyrolytic hydrocarbons (ΣCOMB) than that of total fossil hydrocarbons (ΣTFPAH) declared that atmospheric fall-out from traffic exhausts was the significant source of PAHs to marine environment of the semi-closed areas of Alexandria. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in the harbours, especially marine area due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships awaiting along side the quays.

Highlights

IntroductionMarine environments are considered to be the ultimate pool of many organic pollutants [1,2,3] introduced directly or indirectly through anthropogenic and/or natural sources
Water pollution is a serious problem in the global context
Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contaminations were noticed in the harbours, especially marine area due to petroleum products deliveries and fuel combustion emissions from the ships awaiting along side the quays

Summary

Introduction

Marine environments are considered to be the ultimate pool of many organic pollutants [1,2,3] introduced directly or indirectly through anthropogenic and/or natural sources. The study of trace organic contaminants in coastal marine environment is of great importance, since these areas are biologically productive and receive considerable pollutant inputs from land-based sources via point and nonpoint sources [4,5,6,7]. The quality of the aquatic ecosystem is of great interest to the entire world. Scientific interest in the quality of marine ecosystems is quite recent and has especially increased in the past 15 years in relation to application of the European Union (EU)’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) [8]. Hydrocarbons have received the greatest attention due primarily to the highly lethal effects of most hydrocarbons on marine organisms, espe-

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Conclusion