Determination of persistent organic pollutants in sediment and fish of the western coast of Alexandria, Egypt

Abstract

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were recorded in sediment and fish samples collected from the western coast of Alexandria. Total hydrocarbons (aliphatic+PAHs ) in sediment ranged from 683.8 to 34670.1 ng g ⁻¹ with an average of 9286.9 ng g ⁻¹. The sum of C16–C34 of aliphatic fractions was<4000 ng g;⁻¹, indicating the presence of a fresh petroleum source. For all sediments, the anthracene/phenanthrene ratio was>0.1, suggesting the dominance of a pyrolytic source. Total aliphatics in different fish species ranged from 253 to 11 132 ng g;⁻¹, while total PAHs ranged from 3862 to 35 746 ng g;⁻¹ wet weight. Benzo[a]pyrene was the most dominant PAH fraction ranged from 1902.7 to 32 905.5 with an average of 9464.5 ng g;⁻¹ wet weight in all fish species. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) ranged from 0.79 to 64.9 ng g;⁻¹ with an average 12.14 ng g;⁻¹ wet weight. The concentrations of organochlorines in fish species (Euthynnus alleferatus, Scomberomorus commerson, Sphyraena Sphyraena, Diplodus vulgaris, and Alepes djedaba) decreased following the order: PCBs>DDTs>HCHs>total cyclodienes. Concentrations of DDTs in fish tissues ranged from 4.89 to 36.37 ng g⁻¹ with an average of 16.4 ng g;⁻¹ wet weight. The concentrations of total HCHs ranged from 0.3 to 65.7 ng g;⁻¹ with an average of 16.35 ng g;⁻¹. The present study indicates: (1) fresh petroleum input where Pr/Ph>1; (2) PAHs in sediment<4000 ng g ⁻¹; (3) BaP concentration exceeded the permissible levels in Alepes djedaba species; (4) DDTs in sediment were below the effective range low level; (5) PCBs>effective range low and<effective range medium; and (6) pesticides and PCBs in all fishes were below the acceptable limit.

Keywords:

• POPs
• Sediment
• Fish
• Alexandria
• Egypt

Acknowledgements

The author would like to express his sincere gratitude to Prof. Dr Soliman Hamed, the president of NIOF, and Prof. Dr Mohamed Shreadah, the Vice president of NIOF, for their financial support. Also, I express my deep appreciation to Prof. Dr Zinab El Sherif, for her kind assistance and useful guidance during this study.