Seasonal variations of the total petroleum hydrocarbons in water and sediments of southern iraqi marshlands after rehabilitation 2003.

الملخص EN

For the period Jan.

– Oct.

2004, water and sediments samples were collected from different sites of Iraqi marshland; El-Hewish, Central, and Al-Hammer Marshlands.

Analysis was done for the determination of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH) in the water and sediment samples by adopting the spectroflourometric method according to standard procedures and comparison with standard solutions of Iraqi crude oil.

Concentrations of TPH recorded in water from Iraqi marshlands were in the range of 0.6 –46.82, 20.48 –39.87, 14.28 – 26.16 and 11.64 – 17.427 μg / ml during winter 04, spring 04, summer 04 and autumn 04 respectively.

For sediments range recorded were 29.12 –103.80, 23.84– 93.51, 15.17– 61.89 and 14.37–48.14 μg / g dry weight during the same period of time respectively.

Reported values indicate that Al-hammer marshland is rich in petroleum hydrocarbons compared with other sites of study area except some alteration due to human activities such as in site no.

1 (El-Tara bah) in Al-Hewish marsh as fishing is the main source for living.

Range of %TOC recorded in the sediments of marshlands were 0.284 – 1.032 being the highest in Al-hammer marshes during winter 2003 \ 2004 and showed alternative values during the whole period of study.