Contamination of Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons- (PNAH) in Sediments: Identification And Distribution in the River of Shatt Al-Arab-(ROSA)

Abstract

The sediments were analyzed for total organic carbon content-(TOCC), grain size-(GS), and PNAH levels
and origins. The sediments were taken from 9 stations-(ST) on ROSA. Gas chromatography-(GC) analysis
showed that the PNAH level in ROSA sediments was comparatively low to medium compared to other
world locations. The PNAH total levels varied from 31.86 ng/g dry weight-(DW)-(ST 9) to 88.99 ng/g DW-
(ST 6). The highest PNAH levels were close to oil pollution sources at ST 2, 4, 6, and 8. The TOCC ranged
from 0.32 % to 1.64 %. The data suggested that the PNAH levels in the ROSA were linked to TOCC and GS.
The PNAH compounds and ratios and analysis of principal components-(AOPC) indicated that the PNAH
sources in the river were biogenic-(organisms), pyrogenic-(combustion), and petrogenic-(petroleum).
Ecological risk evaluation showed that PNAH did not cause any deleterious impacts on the ROSA.