Occurrence and Distribution of Aliphatic and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Waters along Coastal Area of Suez Gulf

ٍSUEZ Gulf is an area of environmental interest due to tourism, Suez port, El-Sukhna beach, shipping activity, petroleum production, and industry activities. Water samples were collected from the coastal area of Suez Gulf, and analyzed in 2014 by Gas Chromatography, HPLC, Ultraviolet, and FT-IR spectroscopy for the spatial distribution and sources of aliphatic n-alkanes and unresolved complex mixture of fossil hydrocarbons. The ratio of UCM to n-alkanes and CPI values in all stations indicates that the main contribution to petroleum hydrocarbon contamination is via oil and its products and 16 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the concentrations ranged from 13.352 to 205398.76 ng/L with a mean value of 52531.578 ng /L, which exceed the maximum admissible concentrations of PAHs 200 ng/L for the water standard of European Union. The total concentrations varied from 4105 to 24229 ng /L for aliphatic hydrocarbons, the highest concentrations of total PAHs were recorded for stations near the Inlet of Suez Oil Petroleum Company (SOPC) and both of EL-Sukhna at Loloh and El-Suez beaches. Interferences of rather petrogenic and pyrolytic PAH contaminations were noticed in different locations in Suez Gulf due to petroleum products deliveries and production as well as fuel combustion emissions from boats and ships. The presences of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons were confirmed by both FT-IR analysis and UV absorption spectra. The concentrations detected at each site were sufficiently high to pose a risk to marine organisms if they are exposed continuously to this concentration. Hence, continuous monitoring of the ecosystem is highly warranted.