Levels, compositions, and quality of some Egyptian surface sediments from Suez Gulf, as integrated from polycyclic hydrocarbons

The aim of this study was to investigate the contamination of surface sediments in Suez Gulf, Egypt, by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total concentrations of 16 PAHs were ranged from 6.6009 to 1770.3265 ng/g sed. drywet with an average of 398.617 ng/g sed. dry wet, which is relatively high in comparison with other estuaries around the world. Source identification implied that the PAHs were originated mainly from pyrolytic sources. However, source patterns may be continuously changed to a petrogenic origin due to the heavy ship traffic and continuous discharge of oily sewage in this area. The PAH levels were also compared with international Sediments Quality Guidelines and Sediments Quality Criteria, and the results indicated adverse effects for most individual PAHs. However, toxic effects related to acenaphthylene (A); benzo [b] fluoranthene (Bbf); benzo [K] fluoranthene (Bkf); dibenzo [a, h] anthracene (DahA); and benzo [ghi] perylene (Bp) would occur occasionally in most locations in the Gulf.