Distribution of Oil, Grease and Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Coastal Water and Sediments of Suez Bay

Abstract Permanganate index (PI), oil and grease (O&G) and 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were tested in 13 sites of surface sediment and water samples collected from the western coast of Suez Bay (SB). PI and O&G in the SB coastal seawater ranged from 9.6 mg O2 L− 1 and 17.0 mg L− 1 to 16.0 mg O2 L− 1 and 37.0 mg L− 1, respectively. Petroleum aromatic hydrocarbon levels of water and sediment in the area offshore of SB have been determined by Gas Chromatography. The concentration ranged from 0.574 to 16873.2 ng g− 1 in sediment and 0.502 to 43.540 ng L− 1 in water. The observed data were compared with values reported in the literature. The possible source of pollution was also identified by using gas chromatographic analysis of the samples.