Polycyclic Aromatic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in two Egyptian Coastal Areas along the Mediterranean Sea

Polycyclic Aromatic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in two Egyptian Coastal Areas along the Mediterranean Sea

Polycyclic aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected and quantified in marine sediments and Siganus rivulatus fish species collected from polluted region (El-Mex Bay) and control region (Marsa Matrouh) along the Egyptian coast of the Mediterranean Sea. The concentrations range of total hydrocarbons in sediment samples collected from Matrouh coast was 409.24-521.26 ng/g, dry weight, whereas this range in sediment samples collected from El- Mex Bay was 4159.774589.81 ng/g, dry weight. In the present study the total aliphatic hydrocarbon concentrations varied from 163.88 to 209.8 ng/g dry weight in Matrouh coast area (control area) but its range in El-Mex Bay area (test area) was 1478.04-1637.72 ng/g dry weight. The statistical analysis cleared out that the concentration of total hydrocarbons in sediments collected from El- Mex Bay was 9.5 fold more than those of Matrouh coast revealing more pollution by hydrocarbons in El-Mex Bay sediments compared to Matrouh area. The ratio of phe/anth was less than 10 in sediments of both areas, suggesting that their PAHs were pyrolytic-derived. All samples from Matrouh area gave flu/pyr ratio greater than 1 indicating to a pyrolytic origin of PAHs in this area. On contrast, sediments of El-Mex Bay area gave flu/ pyr ratio less than 1 indicating a petrogenic origin of PAHs.0020. In Siganusrivulatus fish samples the concentrations range of aromatic and aliphatic fractions of hydrocarbons collected from Matrouh coast was 104.72-219.18 ng/g, dry weight, whereas, this range from El- Mex Bay was 2239.52-3532.11 ng/g, dry weight. The statistical analysis of total hydrocarbons in fish muscles revealed very high significantly difference between the two areas as the concentrations in fish muscles collected from El- Mex Bay was 16 fold more than those collected from Matrouh coast. Some samples of Matrouh had pr/ph ratio greater than 1 and other samples have undetected phytane indicating that most PAHs of Matrouh area get from zooplankton, while El-Mex Bay showed that pristine and phytane were present in all samples indicating the petroleum origin of PAHs. Some samples from Matrouh coast had Pr/Ph ratio greater than 1 and another samples have undetected phytane indicatng that most PAHs of this area get from zooplankton, while El-Mex Bay showed that pristine and phytane were present in all samples indicating the petroleum origin.