Assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of organic richness in seawater from some coastal area around Alexandria city, Egypt

摘要

The compositions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons used as chemical markers for the identifying of different sources in the surface seawater of Alexandria coastal area. The quantitative analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) showed a concentration ranged from 8970.939-1254756.00ng/L, which exceed the maximum admissible concentrations of PAHs (200ng/L) for the water standard of European Union. The calculated diagnostic ratios suggested that the sources of PAHs at the majority of the studied area are derived primarily from pyrogenic sources from incomplete fuel combustion of the boats and vehicle engines with lesser amounts of PAHs contributed from petrogenic sources. Some stations displayed mixed sources in comparison to many other studied marine systems, the PAHs concentrations detected at Alexandria area were considered be higher to pose health risks to aquatic bodies.