PAHs in Sediments Contaminated by the Haven Oil Spill. (Genoese Bay)

Sediment samples were collected 40 months after the wreckage of the HAVEN off shore Arenzano, facing the Genoese coast, at 300 to 500 m depth, (wreckage zone) and analysed by UV fluorescence spectroscopy and CG/MS. PAHs as alkylated naphtalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene series have been studied. Analytical results reveal - 1° - a great alteration of alkylated homologues compared to parent compounds - 2° - the appearance of anthracene (absent in the original crude oil) in samples - 3° - a relative increase of high molecular weight PAHs (4-5 rings and more) as benzo(ghi)perylene and indeno(cd)pyrene. These changes result from the partial burning of the contaminant oil. A beginning of biodegradation is observed for alkylated phenanthrenes.