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Study of organic pollution in superficial sediments of Meliane river catchment area: aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

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Abstract

Organic contaminants can be accumulated in aquatic systems even at trace concentrations with potential threats to the environment and human health. The present study has been performed to evaluate the effects of organochlorines and polyaromatic hydrocarbons on surface sediments of the Meliane river catchment. Their determination provides an essential scientific approach for a better understanding of the expected sources and the processes of bioaccumulation. The concentrations of saturated hydrocarbons in extractable organic matter of the dry sediment were found ranging from 0.58 to 3 83 μg kg−1 and PAHs content ranged from 63 to 131 μg kg−1. These results indicated the adherence of Oued Meliane to the pollution of the Tunis Gulf. The fraction of saturated hydrocarbons extracted from the sediments of Oued Meliane included a majority of organic compounds of biogenic nature with a small oil input. In addition, characterization with the TAR index and the LMW/HMW index confirmed that terrigenous inputs in this fraction are more abundant than aquatic inputs. The characterization of PAHs fraction has shown its pyrolitic origin with a predominance of high molecular weight PAHs.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LR Environmental Chemistry, Campus Arbois: Europole de l’Arbois Aix en Provence, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France

    Imen Khabouchi & Rim Driouich Chaouachi

  2. LR Biotechnology and Bio-Geo Resources Valorization (LR11ES31), Higher Institute for Biotechnology - University of Manouba-Biotechpole of Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, 2020, Ariana, Tunisia

    Imen Khabouchi, Rim Driouich Chaouachi, Laurence Asia & Pierre Doumenq

  3. LR Water Researches and Technologies Center, Borj-Cedria, TechnoPark, 273-8020, Soliman, Tunisia

    Samia Khadhar & Anis Chekirbene

Authors
  1. Imen Khabouchi
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  2. Samia Khadhar
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  3. Rim Driouich Chaouachi
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  4. Anis Chekirbene
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  5. Laurence Asia
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  6. Pierre Doumenq
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Correspondence to Samia Khadhar.

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Khabouchi, I., Khadhar, S., Driouich Chaouachi, R. et al. Study of organic pollution in superficial sediments of Meliane river catchment area: aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Environ Monit Assess 192, 283 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8213-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8213-6

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