Environmental Impacts of Petroleum in Seawater, Alexandria Coasts

A study on petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations in seawater along the coast of the Alexandria, Egypt An attempt was made to compare between petroleum hydrocarbons in Alexandria seawater with many other marine coasts, total petroleum hydrocarbons in surface sea water are found to be above the admissible environmental levels. Different diagnostic criteria such as unresolved / resolved compound ratio, pristane / phytane, carbon preference index of n-alkanes, pristane/n. heptadecane and phytane/n. octadecane were used to distinguish between petrogenic and biogenic inputs. Results of the present study have led to better understanding of factors controlling the processes of pollution of in Alexandria sea waters and provide important implications when implementing mitigation pollution management planes for the Alexandria Harbors. In view of mitigation, the outfalls from shipment activities loading/unloading operations and municipal agricultural waters resulting from Alexandria Governorate should be controlled for the benefit of the public health and the aquatic life.