Distribution of petroleum hydrocarbon in sediment from coastal area receiving industrial effluents in Kuwait

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 54; no. 1; pp. 47 - 55
• Main Authors: Beg, M.U, Saeed, T, Al-Muzaini, S, Beg, K.R, Al-Bahloul, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aliphatic compounds; Applied sciences; Environmental Monitoring; Exact sciences and technology; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Guideline Adherence; Hydrocarbons - analysis; Kuwait; Marine; Petroleum - analysis; Petroleum hydrocarbon levels; Pollution; Pollution sources. Measurement results; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Sediments; Shuaiba industrial area; Soil and sediments pollution; Kuwait; Asia; Persian Gulf; ISW, Kuwait, Shuaiba; Shuaiba industrial area; Petroleum hydrocarbon levels; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Kuwait; Sediments; Aliphatic compounds; Marine sediments; Hydrocarbon; Aliphatic compound; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Spatial variation; Petroleum; Coastal zone; Marine environment; Oil industry; Pollutant; Industrial waste water; Water pollution; Comparative study; Concentration distribution
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/S0147-6513(02)00019-2

Sediment samples from the coastal area facing Shuaiba industrial area (15×1.5 km 2) were examined for contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment extracts were characterized largely by unresolved complex mixture from nC 22– nC 33. The sediment samples from the upstream area facing Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery to Shuaiba Harbor were heavily polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) possibly due to the higher depth in the area created for a navigational channel to the harbor. PAHs at these locations exceeded the probable effect levels with reference to sediment quality guidelines.