Variation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Sediments Along the Egyptian Mediterranean Coast in Comparison with Deep Mediterranean Sediments

Abstract

A survey was conducted to determine the levels of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediments of three areas; the shore area from Fuka westward to Dameitta eastward; the shallow area in front of Alexandria from Al Agami westward to Abou-Qir eastward with depths ranged between 15 and 50 m; and the deep eastern Mediterranean Sea with depths ranged between 193 and 4614 m. The total petroleum hydrocarbons (THCs), aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) and aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in the previous mentioned sediment groups in a total of 29 samples. The levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons in the shore sediments were ranged between 8.1 at Aida and 58.9 µg/g at El Mex Bay. The higher contents of total petroleum hydrocarbons (THCs) in El Mex Bay can be attributed to the strong industrial and maritime activities at this Bay and it is extensively exposed to intended or accidentally petroleum spillage from the anchoring of the ships outside the western harbor. Relatively low total petroleum hydrocarbon contents were found in the shore sediments of the western areas of low human activities such as Fuka and Aida. The total petroleum hydrocarbon contents in the shallow water sediments were ranged between 14.9 and 110.9 g/g. The shallow sediments of El Mex Bay and El Agami had the highest contents of total petroleum hydrocarbons if compared with the all studied sediments.