title: Origin and distribution of hydrocarbons and organic matter in the surficial sediments of the Sfax-Kerkennah channel (Tunisia, Southern Mediterranean Sea).
abstract: We investigated the origin and distribution of aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (AHs and PAHs) and organic matter (OM) in surficial sediments of the Sfax-Kerkennah channel in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Southern Mediterranean Sea). TOC, AH and PAH concentrations ranged 2.3-11.7%, 8-174μgg-1sed.dw and 175-10,769ngg-1sed.dw, respectively. The lowest concentrations were recorded in the channel (medium sand sediment) and the highest ones in the Sfax harbor (very fine sand sediment). AHs, PAHs and TOC were not correlated for most of the stations. TOC/N and δ13C values revealed a mixed origin of OM with both marine and terrestrial sources. Hydrocarbon molecular composition highlighted the dominance of petrogenic AHs and the presence of both petrogenic and pyrogenic PAHs, associated with petroleum products and combustion processes. This work underscores the complex distribution patterns and the multiple sources of OM and hydrocarbons in this highly anthropogenized coastal environment.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat; Expérimentation et Approches Numériques LOCEAN, UMR CNRS 7159, CNRS/IRD/UPMC/MNHN, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Case courrier 100, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France; Laboratoire des Bioprocédés Environnementaux, Pôle d'Excellence Régional AUF (PER-LBP), Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax, BP, 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia. Electronic address: hatem.zaghden@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zaghden
authors.affiliation: Aix Marseille Université, CNRS/INSU, Université de Toulon, IRD, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO) UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tedetti
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire des Bioprocédés Environnementaux, Pôle d'Excellence Régional AUF (PER-LBP), Centre de Biotechnologie de Sfax, BP, 1177, 3018 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sayadi
authors.affiliation: Study and Management of Coastal and Urban Environments, National School of Engineers of Sfax, University of Sfax, Soukra, 3038, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mohamed Moncef
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Serbaji
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Eau-Energie-Environnement (Lab 3E), Université de Sfax, ENIS, BP W, 3038 Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Boubaker
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elleuch
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat; Expérimentation et Approches Numériques LOCEAN, UMR CNRS 7159, CNRS/IRD/UPMC/MNHN, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Case courrier 100, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saliot
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D014416:Tunisia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Gulf of Gabès; Hydrocarbons; Mediterranean Sea; Organic matter; Sediment; Sfax