Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in intertidal Mudflat in South of Iraq

Abstract

chosen to collect the sediment sample, three stations were near the Marine water and one station was near the river, total Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (TPHs) were estimated and the results were as following : (TPHs) compounds ranged between (11.6-16.44) μg/g in both stations (2) and (3) but in river station was (6.9) μg/g, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments registered the fallowing data : Acenaphthene was between (N.D -0.796) µg/g, Fluorene recorded (N.D -3.353) µg/g, Phenanthrene (N.D -0.031) µg/g, Anthracene compound was in very high level about (26.653 -26.653 ) µg/g in sation (1,3), Pyrene (N.D -0.052) µg/g, Benzo [a] anthracene (0.227-0.178) µg/g and Chrysene (0--0.061) µg/g. Benzo[b]fluoranthene, Fluoranthene and Naphtalene compounds were N.D. The grain size study shown that sediments are classified as silty clay sediments with high percentage of clay between (65-85 %), and also with a high natural moisture content.