The source and origin of petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediment and four groups of macrozoobenthos communities in north of Persian Golf

Document Type : scientific research article

Author

Assistant Professor, Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecology Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Sciences Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Abbas, Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted in order to compare the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and to compare them in four groups of macrobenthic communities, including gastropods, bivalves, crustaceans, and polychaetes in the north of Persian Golf. Sampling was carried out at 9 stations using a van veen grab along the coastline of Bandar Abbas in March 2018 and August 2019. The average concentration of total PAHs in two sampling periods, regardless of time distribution by station, showed that the refinery has the highest concentration of these compounds, followed by Posht-e-Shahr and Soro. The highest average concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in gastropods belonged to the 3-ring compound Acenaphthene with an average (ppb) of 1117 and the lowest value belonged to the 6-ring compound Benzopyrylene with an average (ppb) of 2. In bivalves, the highest average concentration of the 3-ring compound Acenaphthene with an average (ppb) of 1261 and the lowest value of the 6-ring compound Benzopyrylene with an average (ppb) of 32 was obtained. The highest average concentration belonging to the 4-ring compound Fluranthene with an average (ppb) of 1551 and the lowest value belonging to the 6-ring compound Benzopyrylene with an average (ppb) of 0 were obtained in crustacean tissue. Studies showed that sediments absorb 5-ring compounds, molluscs absorb 3-ring compounds, crabs absorb 4-ring compounds, and reptiles absorb 5-ring compounds more easily.

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