Distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons and organochlorinated contaminants in marine biota and coastal sediments from the ROPME Sea Area during 2005.
The composition and spatial distribution of various petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs), comprising both aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and selected chlorinated pesticides and PCBs were measured in biota and coastal sediments from seven countries in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman (Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). Evidence of extensive marine contamination with respect to organochlorinated compounds and PHs was not observed. Only one site, namely the BAPCO oil refinery in Bahrain, was considered to be chronically contaminated. Comparison of the results from this survey for Σ DDTs and Σ PCBs in rock oysters from the Gulf of Oman with similar measurements made at the same locations over the past two decades indicates a temporal trend of overall decreasing Σ PCB concentrations in oysters, whereas Σ DDTs levels have little changed during that period.
Marine Environment Laboratories, International Atomic Energy Agency, 4 quai Antoine 1er, MC 98000, Monaco. Stephen.deMora@gmail.com
Stephen
S
de Mora
Imma
I
Tolosa
Scott W
SW
Fowler
Jean-Pierre
JP
Villeneuve
Roberto
R
Cassi
Chantal
C
Cattini
D000818:Animals; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000378:metabolism*; D058448:Biota; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D019156:Indian Ocean; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D010578:Petroleum / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D006838:Hydrocarbons; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D010575:Pesticides; D010578:Petroleum; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls