Evaluation of poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the aquatic species of Suez Gulf water along El-Sokhna area to the Suez refineries

Abstract

The Egyptian Red Sea environment especially along El-Sokhna area to the Suez refineries (Suez) is severely contaminated with organic compounds, as well as overfishing. This may be well contributory to recent serious declines in fish stocks. Fish embryos are also particularly vulnerable to oil exposure, even at extremely low concentrations of less than one part per billion. Consequently, even traces of oil pollution at levels often considered safe for wildlife can cause severe damage to fish. Sixteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated in ten fish species of aquatic species by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The compositions of PAHs determined in all samples were measured in order to use them as chemical markers for identifying different sources of PAH pollutants in the studied region. The total content of these16 PAHs ranged from 399.616 up to 67,631.779 ng/g wet weight. The data show that these values are considered to be alarmingly high enough to cause lethal toxicity effect by accumulation. All studied aquatic species samples are characterized by relatively high concentrations of the six-membered ring PAHs. The origin of PAHs in the collected samples is either petrogenic, biogenic, or mixed petrogenic and biogenic.

Mobility and Fate of Pollutants in the Aquifer System of the Northwestern Suez Gulf, Egypt

“…They mentioned that the petroleum refineries are the foremost continuous source of pollution by both heavy metals and organic contaminants in northwestern Suez Gulf region. Ali et al (2014) found concentrations of PAHs (399.616 up to 67631.779 ng/g) especially six rings members in fish samples collected along north Suez Gulf, that are high enough to cause lethal toxicity effect by accumulation. Farid et al (2014) determined petroleum pollutants in Suez Bay coastal waters with concentrations amounting to 3.88-37.69 mg/ml.…”

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“…The PAHs is subject to microbial degradation which may be a rather rapid process in aerobic environments. However, if the PAHs are buried within the anaerobic sediments, bio-degradation proceeds very slowly [17].…”

Radiological Impacts of Norm and Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Petroleum Industry Process on Marine Ecosystem at the Red Sea, Egypt

“…The PAHs is subject to microbial degradation which may be a rather rapid process in aerobic environments. However, if the PAHs are buried within the anaerobic sediments, bio-degradation proceeds very slowly [17].…”