Petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in the surface sediments of two major sea ports, Bay of Bengal, India

Abstract

This investigation was made to assess the seasonal accumulation pattern of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in sediments along the two major ports such as Ennore and Tuticorin, located in Southeast coast of India. The level of TPH was found to vary from 2.05µg g − 1 to 17.47 µg g − 1 . To establish the relationship among the TPH with total organic carbon (TOC) and sediment components, the techniques of correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA) were used. The higher accumulation of TPH during monsoon season indicates that all wastes discharged on land was washed and got deposited on the Ennore coast. The signi cant positive correlation with TOC was noticed and the evidences indicated that the sedimentary organic carbon is acting as a strong binding agent for TPH.

Spatial distribution of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the seawater and sediment of Southeast coast of India

“…However, present TPH in sediments were much higher than recently reported levels (6.41μg/g) in Tuticorin coast (Balachandar et al 2021) (Table 2). However, in the present study TPH concentrations in the sediment were lower than the Marine Sediment Quality Standard of rst-class standard values of 500μg/g (CSBTS 2002).…”