Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Muscles of Two Commercial Fish Species from Al-Kahlaa River in Missan Governorate, Iraq

Al-Kahlaa River is one of main tributaries of the Tigris River in Missan city and rises from northwest side of Amara city and continues to flow in the direction to the east of city center. Two commercial fish species (Liza abu and Carassius auratus) were collected seasonally (autumn, winter, spring and summer) during period from 2012 to 2013 from Al-Kahlaa River in Missan governorate. The concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in fish muscles were determined in the laboratories of Nihran Omer (South Oil Company in Basrah province), using Gas Chromatography. Total concentrations of PAHs in muscles of L. abu ranged between 2.301 and 16.661 ng.g^-1 dry weight during winter and summer respectively and in C. auratus between 1.095 and 8.675 ng.g^-1 dry weight during winter and summer, respectively. Results of this study revealed that high molecular weight of PAHs were more than low molecular weight in both fish species, and according to ratios of Low molecular weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (LPAHs) to High molecular weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (HPAHs), Benzo(a) Anthracene /(Benzo(a) Anthracene+ Chrysene) BaA/(BaA+Chr),Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene /(Indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene + Benzo (ghi) perylene) InP/(InP+BghiP) and Fluoranthene/Pyrene (Fl/Py), they certainly reflected that the PAHs sources in both species are pyrogenic as a main sources and petrogenic as a small part. Also results of this study revealed the presence of seasonal variations in total concentrations of PAHs in both fish species. The study area was generally contaminated with hydrocarbons and continuous consumption of food from this area may pose public health hazards.