Distribution of petroleum hydrocarbon in sediment from coastal area receiving industrial effluents in Kuwait

Sediment samples from the coastal area facing Shuaiba industrial area (15×1.5 km2) were examined for contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment extracts were characterized largely by unresolved complex mixture from nC22–nC33. The sediment samples from the upstream area facing Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery to Shuaiba Harbor were heavily polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) possibly due to the higher depth in the area created for a navigational channel to the harbor. PAHs at these locations exceeded the probable effect levels with reference to sediment quality guidelines.