Petroleum hydrocarbons and trace metals in nearshore Gulf sediments and biota before and after the 1991 war: An assessment of temporal and spatial trends

摘要: Abstract Immediately following the 1991 Gulf War, a survey was organized to determine extent and degree of contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons trace metals that entered from massive oil spill field fires in Kuwait. Between June–October samples nearshore sediments, bivalves fish were collected Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, UAE Oman. Analyses revealed highest levels along heavily-impacted coast Arabia between Ras Al Khafji Ghar, where concentrations total (expressed as Kuwait crude equivalents) ranged 62–1400 μg g−1 dry wt surface 570–2600 clams 9.6–31 muscle. Gas chromatographic analyses indicated much intertidal zone had substantially degraded within few months spill. Concentrations oil-related Ni V slightly elevated oil-contaminated sediments but elsewhere similar measured earlier years at those sites. This initial regional demonstrated hydrocarbon originating war-related pollution events restricted approximately 400 km source, combustion derived PAHs marine environment time (e.g. 1–450 ng for pyrene sediments) same order which have been several coastal areas eastern United States northern Europe, outside immediate area impact, metal sediment generally low as, or lower than, sites before war.