Evaluation of the changes of total petroleum hydrocarbons pollution in the coastal sediments of Pars-e Jonubi

Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) contamination results in environmental pollution and adversely affects the marine ecosystem and health of aquatic organisms. This study evaluated the changes of total petroleum hydrocarbons concentrations in the coastal sediments of Pars-e Jonubi. A total number of 30 sediment samples were taken from 10 stations within the sewage effluent of the natural gas refineries in Pars-e Jonubi. The standard method of the American Association of Environmental Protection (USEPA-SW-846#3540C) has been used to extract and prepare TPHs from the sediment phase. Gas chromatography (GC-FID) VARRIAN, model CP-38001, was used to measure the concentration of TPHs in sediments. Results indicated that the mean concentration of TPHs in sediment samples was 6.35 ± 2.42, and the values ranged from 3.20 to 10.89 mg/kg. A significant negative correlation was observed between TPHs concentrations and distance from the shoreline (r = –0.598, P-value: 0.001). It is necessary that a continuous monitoring program be conducted for Pars-e Jonubi coasts to confirm that the concentration of TPHs is within the unpolluted level established in the present study.