International Journal of Marine Science, 2017, Vol.7, No.1, 1-7
5
photo-decomposition, sedimentation, and biodegradation. These factors collectively reduce the concentration of
hydrocarbons compounds (Al-Saad, 1995).
Our data indicate that the level of Total petroleum Hydrocarbons
which observed in selected fish lie within the range of values reported for comparable areas (Table 3).
Table 3 Comparison of petroleum hydrocarbon concentration (μg/g dry wt.) in fish samples from Shatt Al-Arab River with those
from selected marine areas
Stations
Conc. (μ g/g)
References
Hor Al-Howaiza
1.09 - 11.11
Al-Khatib (2008)
Um Al-Ward
2.46 - 3.23
Hor Al-Hammar, Iraq
1.945 - 4.011
Talal (2008)
Euphrates River, Nasiria City
6.01 - 13.63
Abed Ali (2013)
Southern Iraqi Marshes
1.15 - 27.42
Abdul Rehman (2010)
Al-Kahlaa River, Missan City
2.51 - 37.30
Al-Saad et al., (2015)
Al-Bagdadia
4.79 - 6.87
Salman (2011)
Al-Nagarah
3.31 - 3.60
Al-Bargah
1.51 - 2.76
Arabian Gulf
4.80 -7.40
Ashraf and Mian, (2010)
Shatt Al-Arab
29.60 -45.90
Al-Saad and Al-Asadi (1989)
Red Sea of Yemen
0.10 - 1.30
Nabil and Al-Shwafi (2008)
Gulf of Aden
0.20 - 1.30
Arabian Gulf
0.57 - 3.67
Nozar et al.(2015)
Shatt Al-Arab estuary and NW Arabian Gulf 1.70 - 10.91
Al-Saad et al.(1997)
Shatt Al-Arab estuary and NW Arabian Gulf 2.60 - 12.55
Hantoush et al. (2001)
Khor Al-Zubair
8.30 - 40.60
Al-Saad (1990)
Iraqi Marine Water
11.44 - 48.16
Nasir (2007)
Al-Fao and Khor Abdullah
0.23 - 54.46
Al-Khion(2012)
Iraqi marine waters
2.55 - 7.25
Al-Ali et al.(2016)
Shatt Al-Arab
2.785- 13.32
Current study
3 Conclusions
The species of fish species from Shatt Al-Arab River were found to contain measurable amount of hydrocarbons.
The hydrocarbons found in the species of fishes of Shatt Al-Arab River are due to food and water sources, type of
habitat, environmental factors, and lipid content.we found that the
Leuciscus vorax
have the highest concentration
of petroleum hydrocarbons compared with other fish. All this species are commercial and eaten by people, from
the present study it can be concluded that TPH levels are not as high as could be expected in the Gulf, therefore,
consumption of these fish species does not pose a significant health risk to the local population.
Authors’ Contributions
Al-Ali B.S., Al-Anber L.J. and Al-Khion D.D. conceived and designed the experiments. Hantoush A.A., Saleh S.M., and Aleal A.H.
analysed the data. AL-Saad,H.T and Al-Ali B.S. wrote the first draft of the manuscript. Al-Anber L.J. and Al-Khion D.D. contributed
to the writing of the manuscript. Hantoush A.A., Saleh S.M., and Aleal A.H. agree with manuscript results and conclusions.
AL-Saad,H.T and Al-Ali B.S. jointly developed the structure and arguments for the paper. AL-Saad H.T made critical revisions and
approved final version. All authors reviewed and approved of the final manuscript.
Acknowledgements
The researchers wish to acknowledge the Marine Science Center (University of Basra) for providing laboratory facilities.
References
Abdul-Rehman B.A., 2010, The assessment of accumulation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the muscles of some fishes in Al-Hammar and Al-Hawizeh marshes,
south Iraq. M.Sc thesis, College of Science, University of Basrah, p. 105
