D TRIBUT. ON OF PO YCYi OMA C HYDROCARBONS IN COASTAL WATER ALONG THE NORTH-WESTERNAREA OF THE GUL OF UEZ

D TRIBUT. ON OF PO YCYi OMA C HYDROCARBONS IN

COASTAL WATER ALONG THE NORTH-WESTERNAREA OF

THE GUL OF UEZ

BY
Ou. y, A.s,. IBRAH’ , M.B. .” AND ABD EL-GHAFAR, H.B.
•Water PollllIionREsearch Department, NatiotwlResearch Centre. Cairo, Egypt.
ABST CT
Levels ofpol eye ic aromatic hy rocarbo- (pAH’s) were determined in
the coasta seawater ofthe northwestern area ofthe Gulfof uez (GOS).
Six subsurface water samples were collected along the coastal area
between EL-Adabya port near the Suez City and Ain Sokhna in the vicinity
o the SUMED pipeli erminal. Monthly sa ling was performed
between October 1999 to November 2000 from fi”.: diffirent locations.
Seventeen compounds of PAH’s were . entified Mean I:PAR’s levels
ranged from 16.2 to 39.29 folg/i.Generally. high concentrations of the
total PAR’s (30.69 and 39.29 folg/i) were found in the locations 4 and 5
(Suez bay). The degree of pollution decreases sou hwards along GOs.
Fluoranthene was abundant in all locations than other PAH’s. The result
.from different seasons have also been compared. The levels ofPAR’s were
lower in summer than during winter. ni might be attnbuted to seasonal
temperature variations and the intensity of degradation. The origin of
hydrocarbons was identified using the distribution of individual
compounds and by a set of parameters and ratios that are useful in
distinguishing the contribution of biogenic (biological nature) and
anthropogenic (petroleum nature). T. ‘is study aimed to determine the
petroleum hydrocarbon distribution a ong the northwes ern region of
GOS, estimate background levels and establish criteria for fUture
monitoring strategies in the region.