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

摘要

Sediment samples from the coastal area facing Shuaiba industrial area (15 x 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.