This study investigated the presence and origin of hydrocarbon pollution in industrial waste water sediments found near the Jarzouna (Bizerte, Tunisia) oil refinery. Analyses of surface sediments (layer 1) and deep sediments (layer 2) showed that Total Hydrocarbon (TH) concentrations ranged from 602 +/- 7.638 microg/g in layer-1 to 1270 +/- 2.176 microg/g in layer-2. The results suggest that the deeper the sediment, the higher the level of total hydrocarbon found. The sedimentary Non Aromatic Hydrocarbon (NAH) and Aromatic Hydrocarbon (AH) concentrations ranged from 66.22 +/- 1.516 to 211.82 +/- 10.670 microg/g for NAH, and from 13.84 +/- 0.180 to 115.60 +/- 2.479 microg/g for AH. The high variability of these concentrations was associated with the location of the sediment collection sites. Aliphatic biomarker analysis revealed petroleum contamination close to the refinery rejection site, and biogenic sources further away. Petroleum contamination may be associated with increased industrial activity in the area of Jarzouna-Bizerte in the Mediterranean Sea.

We investigated the composition and spatial distribution of non-aromatic, aromatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) found in seawater and water extracted from refinery rejection effluents in the coastal area of Jarzouna, Tunisia. Water samples were analysed for hydrocarbons by gas chromatography. Total hydrocarbon levels ranged between 46 and 76 mg/L in seawater samples and between 28 and 102 mg/L in water extracts. The sites nearest to the oil refinery were found to be chronically contaminated by total petroleum hydrocarbons based on aliphatic biomarkers. PAH contamination is generally much more pyrolytic than petrogenic. This study helped to determine the concentration, spatial distribution, compound profiles and possible sources of various petroleum compounds, thus contributing significantly to a greater understanding of the background of petroleum hydrocarbon levels, the various types of anthropogenic input involved and the contribution of the Société Tunisienne des Industries de Raffinage refinery's effluents in terms of hydrocarbon pollution.

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