POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND AROMATIC PLASTICISER MATERIALS IN THE SEAWATER OF ALEXANDRIA COASTAL AREA

POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS AND AROMATIC
PLASTICISER MATERIALS IN THE SEAWATER OF
ALEXANDRIA COASTAL AREA
MOHAMED KAMAL Z. EL-DEEB AND HOSNY I. EMARA
National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, Qayet Bey, Alexandria, Egypt.
Key words: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, sources, seasonal changes, natural variation,
plasticizer materials, rain water.
ABSTRACT
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), the real contaminants of petroleum, were
detected in the surface seawater of Alexandria coastal area in winter and spring seasons of
1995. Their order of predominance, particularly for the individual components were
principally due to the processes of input, transport and fluxes. Variation of PAHs was not
following seasonal changes but it was slightly affected by partial dissolution of the lowerboiling aromatic hydrocarbons. The most abundant component of aromatic hydrocarbons
was pyrene (PAH),112ngI
-1
followed by naphthalene(56ngI
-1
) and its alkylated derivatives
(dicyclic), then phenanthrene(14ngI
-1
) and its methylated derivatives (tricyclic). The
potential fish carcinogenic PAH, dibenz [a & c] anthracene was found in extremely trace
levels. Most aromatic hydrocarbons present in seawater were arised from combustion of
various petroleum and non-petroleum products, while few aromatics were found as a result
of petroleum pollution. PAHs were also detected in rain water(25ngI
-1
). Plasticiser
materials (phthalates) were determined everywhere at considerable levels in the coastal area
of Alexandria; which is the first district in Egypt for producing and recycling polyethylene,
plastics and nylons.