Concentration And Distribution Of Petroleum Hydrocarbons In Water, Sediment And Biota From The Euphrates River Near Al—Nasiriya City

Abstract

Concentration and distribution of petroleum hydrocarbons in water, sediment and biota (Phragmites australis and Cyprinus carpio)have been studied. The samples were collected from three selected stations in the Euphrates River near Al- Nassrya city south of Iraq during 2014.Spectroflurometer was used for this purpose The lowest concentration in water was (5.62mg/l) recorded at station (1), whereas the highest concentration was (12.35mg /l) recorded at station (3). The higher concentration (12.32mg/g) dry weight of petroleum hydrocarbon in sediment was at station( 3),while the lowest concentration was (6.43 mg /g) dry weight was at station(1). The study shows that there is a significant relationships between total organic carbon (TOC%)in the sediment and the grain size with concentration of hydrocarbon at the study stations. The higher Concentration of petroleum hydrocarbon in plant Phragmites australis was (13.63mg/g ) dry weight recorded at station (3), and the lowest was (5.30mg /g) dry weight recorded at station (1),In the muscles fish the higher concentration of hydrocarbon was(15.9mg /g) dry weight recorded at station (3) and the lowest was (7.90mg /g) dry weight. recorded at station (1), The present study indicated that hydrocarbons exist in the study area, but its levels were in acceptable range.