Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Lebanese surficial sediments: A focus on the regions of Tripoli, Jounieh, Dora, and Tyre.
This paper aims to identify the concentrations of PAHs in the sediments of four coastal zones in Lebanon and determine their possible sources and effects. For each region (Tripoli, Jounieh, Dora, and Tyre), sampling, lyophilization, Soxhlet extraction, rotary evaporation, and gas chromatography were performed on 11, 10, 7, and 11 samples, respectively. The total PAHs concentrations ranged from 1.22 to 731.93μg/kg dry weight. The lowest concentrations were found in Tyre and the highest in Dora and Jounieh. The level of PAHs was classified as low to moderate and their source was mainly pyrogenic.
Chemical Engineering Department, University of Balamand, El Koura, North Lebanon, PO Box: 100, Tripoli, Lebanon. Electronic address: Rima.manneh@balamand.edu.lb.
Rima
R
Manneh
Lebanese University, Faculty of Sciences 3, Tripoli, Lebanon; National Council for Scientific Research Lebanon, National Center for Marine Sciences, North Lebanon, PO Box: 534, Batroun, Lebanon.
Carine
C
Abi Ghanem
National Council for Scientific Research Lebanon, National Center for Marine Sciences, North Lebanon, PO Box: 534, Batroun, Lebanon.
Gaby
G
Khalaf
National Council for Scientific Research Lebanon, National Center for Marine Sciences, North Lebanon, PO Box: 534, Batroun, Lebanon.
Elie
E
Najjar
Chemistry Department, University of Balamand, El Koura, North Lebanon, PO Box: 100, Tripoli, Lebanon.
Bilal
B
El Khoury
Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Balamand, El Koura, North Lebanon, PO Box: 100, Tripoli, Lebanon.
Amal
A
Iaaly
Chemical Engineering Department, University of Balamand, El Koura, North Lebanon, PO Box: 100, Tripoli, Lebanon.
Henri
H
El Zakhem
D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D007861:Lebanon; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
Lebanon; Marine sediments; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)