title: Hydrocarbon pollution in the sediment from the Jarzouna-Bizerte coastal area of Tunisia (Mediterranean Sea).
abstract: This study investigated the presence and origin of hydrocarbon pollution in industrial waste water sediments found near the Jarzouna (Bizerte, Tunisia) oil refinery. Analyses of surface sediments (layer 1) and deep sediments (layer 2) showed that Total Hydrocarbon (TH) concentrations ranged from 602 +/- 7.638 microg/g in layer-1 to 1270 +/- 2.176 microg/g in layer-2. The results suggest that the deeper the sediment, the higher the level of total hydrocarbon found. The sedimentary Non Aromatic Hydrocarbon (NAH) and Aromatic Hydrocarbon (AH) concentrations ranged from 66.22 +/- 1.516 to 211.82 +/- 10.670 microg/g for NAH, and from 13.84 +/- 0.180 to 115.60 +/- 2.479 microg/g for AH. The high variability of these concentrations was associated with the location of the sediment collection sites. Aliphatic biomarker analysis revealed petroleum contamination close to the refinery rejection site, and biogenic sources further away. Petroleum contamination may be associated with increased industrial activity in the area of Jarzouna-Bizerte in the Mediterranean Sea.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Pharmacie, Laboratoire d'Analyse, Traitement et Valorisation des Polluants de l'Environnement et des produits, Rue Avicenne, 5019 Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zrafi-Nouira
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khedir-Ghenim
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zrafi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bahri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Cheraeif
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouabhia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saidane-Mosbahi
mesh_terms: D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D010578:Petroleum; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007220:Industrial Waste; D010578:Petroleum; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical